Photo/Illutration A sign at a supermarket in Yokohama in May advises shoppers to buy food products before their prices are raised. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Households struggling against inflation will likely see the situation worsen in autumn.

The prices of nearly 10,000 food items will increase from September to November, on top of around 10,000 products that have already become more expensive this year, a survey showed.

Teikoku Databank Ltd. in late August asked 105 major food producers if they have raised their prices this year or plan to increase prices in autumn.

Eighty-two companies said “yes,” compared with 21 in the survey conducted last year.

The average price increase rate in the latest survey was 14 percent.

The survey found that the costs of 9,414 food products will rise this autumn, bringing the total number of more expensive food items this year to 20,056.

Teikoku Databanka said that at this stage, it is unclear if the companies are planning further price hikes in December.

Food makers were already prepared to pass on the rising costs of crude oil and ingredients to consumers.

But the situation has been exacerbated by the surge in impost costs following the yen’s plunge in value against the U.S. dollar over the past few months.

The Japanese currency on Sept. 1 was approaching 140 per dollar, the lowest rate in more than two decades.

According to the survey, the prices of 2,424 food products are scheduled to rise in September, including Koike-ya Inc.’s Karamucho Potato Chips Hot Chili, Imuraya Co.’s Azuki Bar ice cream, and Megmilk Snow Brand Co.’s margarine.

Ham and sausage products from Prima Meat Packers Ltd., as well as potato chips from Calbee Inc., are also slated for price hikes this month, for the second time this year.

In October, 6,532 products are expected to cost more, including beer, soft drinks and mayonnaise, about 2.6 times the record-high number for 2022 set in August.

The government plans to maintain the current resale price of imported wheat for millers when it sets a new price in October as part of measures to help ease the pressure on consumers.

But some food makers said they can no longer absorb the rising expenses on their own without passing on the higher costs onto customers.

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