Japan consumer prices rise for first time in 14 months

In the UK no tax on food means it is far cheaper than Japan.

For the price of two bags of potato chips in Japan I can make a nutritious dinner-yesterday, I did just that!

@Herve and Reckless - this is how even the analysts participate in the deception of the public. Just yesterday I was reading a recent paperback about how Japan is becoming a "cheap" country compared to most of the world, and one chapter was about an analysis of records from point-of-sale terminals and whether the prices they record for specific products have risen or lowered. There was a graph showing the ratio of increases to decreases for each year, and it looked like neither side had the advantage, with almost as many increases as decreases every year.

What the author didn't even mention is that if less product is put in the same package, manufacturers can pull the trick of lowering the number on the price tag while actually charging much more: a 20% decrease in volume but with a 5% decrease in price is actually a huge price increase, but it looks cheaper in the system.

This deception has been pulled with so many products in the past decade or so. I don't think the analysts are stupid, but I do wonder if they have an agenda they are pushing; specifically, the BoJ's agenda.

Reckless, most people are unaware or simply oblivious to the repackaging tricks. Short memories and no usage of mathematics. Potato chips are another clear example.

And my wages keep falling as prices increase. Will soon have to get a third job just to make ends meet.

Prices have risen for many items, especially foods and drinks, but the price increases (largely due to the consumption tax increases) have been concealed by repackaging. For example, a bottle of UCC coffee that was previously 1000ml now sells for the same price but contains 930ml. The packaging looks the same but buyers get less for their money.

That trick is used for many many products.