On the 21st, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan released a report indicating that in February of this year, the core Consumer Price Index (CPI) excluding fresh food rose by 3.0% year-on-year to 109.7, marking the 42nd consecutive month of year-on-year increases. The report shows that food prices have risen across the board, becoming the main reason driving up prices in Japan. In February, the price of cabbage, an essential item on Japanese tables, rose by 130.5% year-on-year; the "rice shortage" that began last summer has not eased, despite the government's announcement to release reserve rice onto the market, with the price of ordinary Japonica rice seeing an increase of 81.4% year-on-year. Due to the Japanese government's subsidies on winter electricity and gas fees, which have somewhat suppressed the increase in prices, the year-on-year increase in core CPI in February was slightly lower than the previous month. Analysts pointed out that the current increase in prices in Japan is mainly driven by cost rather than demand. (Xinhua News Agency)