Food Price Hikes in April 2026 Affect 2,798 Items: First Major Rush of the Year with Potential Resurgence in Late 2026

Teikoku Databank conducted an analysis on the trends and outlook for food and beverage price hikes starting in April 2026.

### SUMMARY
- A total of 2,798 food and beverage items saw price increases in April 2026.
- By category, 'Seasonings' such as mayonnaise and dressings were the most numerous, with 1,514 items.
- The primary driver for these increases was cost-related, particularly regarding raw materials.
- While a temporary lull is expected as figures remain significantly lower than the previous year, a resurgence of price hikes could occur in the latter half of the year if costs for yen depreciation, crude oil, and energy rise long-term and comprehensively.

[Note]
Item counts and price hikes are based on company announcements. Items that saw multiple price hikes within the year are counted separately for each instance. Price hike rates represent the maximum value at the time of announcement. 'Substantial price hikes' through price maintenance but volume reduction are also included.

### April 2026 Hikes Reach 2,798 Items, Marking the Year's First Rush
Among 195 major food manufacturers, price hikes for food and beverages (primarily for household use) reached 2,798 items in April, with an average hike rate of 14% per instance. This marks the first time since October 2025 (six months ago) that monthly hikes exceeded 2,000 items, making it the first major rush of 2026. However, for the month of April, this was 1,427 items (33.8%) lower than the previous year (4,225 items) and was the second-lowest level for April since the survey began in 2022. The intensity of food price hikes remained in a lull compared to the previous year.

Categorizing the April 2026 hikes by food sector, 'Seasonings' (1,514 items), centered on mayonnaise and dressings, were the most frequent. 'Processed Foods' (609 items) mainly included instant noodles, cup soups, and canned products. 'Liquor and Beverages' (369 items) covered whiskey, shochu, and imported wines. Additionally, 'Raw Materials' (259 items) saw many increases, particularly in edible oils.

Cumulative price hikes for 2026 from January to July reached 5,729 items, with an annual average hike rate of 15%. Compared to the same period last year (as of March 31, 2025, with 11,707 items), where planned hikes for the year exceeded 10,000 items, the current trend as of March 31, 2026, shows a 50% decrease including planned hikes. However, 'volume-reduction hikes' were observed in confectionery, and price increases due to high raw material costs were common, particularly for rice. Furthermore, geopolitical risks in the Middle East due to attacks by the U.S. and Israel on Iran are rising, alongside concerns over high packaging and energy costs due to unstable crude oil supply. These factors suggest that the slowing trend in price hikes could intensify again in the latter half of the year.

Regarding the reasons for price hikes, material-driven costs predominated. Hikes influenced by 'High Raw Material Costs' reached 99.8%, the highest since data collection began in 2023. Factors that increased from the previous month included energy costs such as electricity and gas.