The domestic wholesale price index rose by 0.2 percent in July from the previous month to 97.2 against the 1990 base of 100, the Bank of Japan said August 8.
Large-lot electricity rates were switched to higher summer rates and prices of scrap iron used to produce steel bars went up, a BOJ official said, adding that the index has been moving steadily. The export price index, measured in yen, increased 0.2 percent from June, mainly because prices of small cars rose in response to the stronger yen.
The import price index declined 1.5 percent, the fifth consecutive month of decline, as prices for crude oil and coffee beans went down. The overall wholesale price index moved up 0.1 percent to 94.5, according to the BOJ.