The average price of rice sold at about 1,000 supermarkets across Japan in the week through Sunday fell ¥6 from the previous week to ¥4,205 per 5 kilograms, agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi said Friday.
The average rice price decreased for the third consecutive week, but remained above ¥4,000 for the fifth straight week.
"The situation regarding rice prices may change significantly again, so we will closely monitor it," Koizumi told reporters at the agriculture ministry.
A separate survey of about 1,200 supermarkets also showed rice prices continuing to decline, slipping ¥17 to ¥3,522, Koizumi said.
A survey of about 6,000 drug stores and other retail shops found that the average price was ¥80 higher at ¥4,075, the first rise in two weeks.
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