Japan’s national consumer price index (CPI) rose 1.5% year-over-year in May 2026, a modest acceleration from April’s 1.4% annual increase. The latest data, updated on 18 June 2026, indicate a slight strengthening in price pressures compared to the same month a year earlier.
The figures are based on year-over-year comparisons, where the “actual” reading reflects the change in prices in May 2026 versus May 2025. The “previous” reading captures April 2026 compared with April 2025. The uptick from 1.4% to 1.5% suggests that Japan’s inflation environment remains relatively subdued but is drifting incrementally higher on an annual basis.
