Japan Inflation Slows In August, Rice Price Surges Ease

Voters angry about rising rice costs have deserted the long-dominant ruling Liberal Democratic Party (Credit: AFP)

Inflation in Japan slowed to 2.7 percent in August due partly to government energy subsidies, official data showed Friday, with the cost of rice easing following a huge price spike.

Inflation continues to be driven by rice prices, which increased by 68.8 percent year-on-year in August after surges of around 100 percent in June and 90.7 percent in July.