Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / BUSINESS
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
Business Contents:  Your Money | Economy Companies

Monday, 21 August 2006, 11:04 GMT 12:04 UK

Sushi joins Japan 'shop basket'

Conveyor belt sushi restaurant Japan's love of raw fish is due to be further confirmed this week when the price of conveyor belt sushi joins the country's inflation "shopping basket".

Like most countries, Japan has a list of top-selling items whose price it tracks to determine its inflation rate.

The price of sushi at restaurants where it is served from conveyor belts is now joining the list along with the latest generation flatscreen televisions.

Pencils and sewing machines are being removed from the basket to make way.

In the latest changes to the list of inflation-tracking products, Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications is adding 34 items while dropping or combining 48.

'Overcoming deflation'

Economists estimate the changes will reduce Japan's consumer price index by 0.2% to 0.3%.

The Japanese government is keen to see moderate inflation continue as the economy recovers from a period of deflation.

"The revisions won't affect the view that the economy is well on its way to overcoming deflation for good," said Naoki Iizuka, chief economist at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute.

"There should be plenty of evidence by the October-December quarter that will show prices have shaken off the risk of falling back into decline."

Earlier this year, the UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS) added digital music players to its inflation shopping basket.

In recent years it has also added Champagne and condoms.



E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
UK 'shopping basket' goes hi-tech (20 Mar 06 |  Business )
Chucking out the slippers (21 Mar 06 |  Magazine )
Condoms used to measure inflation (24 Nov 05 |  Business )
China outlaws 'naked sushi' meals (22 May 05 |  Asia-Pacific )
Bubbly joins 'UK shopping basket' (21 Mar 05 |  Business )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Ministry of Internal Affairs & Communications
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
Business Contents:  Your Money | Economy Companies

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©