The "Curry Rice Price Index," which looks at price trends based on the cost of ingredients for curry rice, has reached a new record high. We asked people on the street what they are saving on as prices continue to rise. ■ "Curry Rice Price Index" Why has it been high for eight consecutive months? Caster Takahiro Inoue: The "Curry Rice Price Index" is announced every month. It is divided into four categories: ▼ Curry ingredients (meat and vegetables), ▼ Curry roux, ▼ Rice, and ▼ Utility costs. The Curry Rice Price Index for November 2024 announced by Teikoku Databank is as follows. ● Curry ingredients (meat and vegetables): 200 yen (195 yen in the same month last year) ● Curry roux: 25 yen (25 yen in the same month last year) ● Rice: 149 yen (92 yen in the same month last year) ● Water and electricity bills: 4 yen (4 yen in the same month last year) → November 2024: 377 yen per meal While vegetables are said to have become somewhat cheaper and are stabilizing, curry ingredients have increased by 5 yen compared to the same month last year. In addition, rice, which was 92 yen in the same month last year, has also increased significantly to 149 yen. The price per meal was 267 yen in November 2020, 316 yen in November 2023, and 377 yen in November 2024, so we can see that it has increased that much. Why has it been high for eight consecutive months? According to Teikoku Databank, rice prices have risen sharply, and the increase from the same month last year is the largest in the past 10 years. On the other hand, the price of imported beef is on the rise due to the weak yen. The price rise is unprecedented in recent years, and it is expected that the curry rice price index, which started at 318 yen per serving in March 2024, will reach 380 yen per serving in December. The price of rice has not slowed down on a retail price basis, and it is also taken into account that electricity and gas prices will rise this winter. Caster Chiaki Horan: It was said that the price would calm down more than it was at one time when the new rice started to be distributed, but it has been announced that the price will remain high in 2025. Former Japanese national swimming team member Takeshi Matsuda: I think the amount in circulation is sufficient, but the price still does not go down. When I go shopping at the supermarket, broccoli, which used to be available for about 200 yen per bunch, is now in the upper 300 yen range. It feels like vegetables, rice, and meat are all expensive. Holan Caster: You can see that many things are gradually rising when you look at the curry rice price index. Even seasonal foods are expensive. ■What is the "hot pot price index"? The price of the classic Chinese cabbage is rising. Inoue Caster: Since it's hot pot season, I've put together a "hot pot price index." According to Hiromichi Akiba, president of Super Akidai, this January... ● Chinese cabbage (1/4): 198 yen (last month: 98 yen), 250 to 298 yen from February onwards ● Carrots (1 bag): 158 yen (last month: 158 yen), unchanged from February onwards ● Shimeji mushrooms (1 bag): 100 yen (last month: 100 yen), unchanged from February onwards ● Mizuna (1 bag): 100 yen (last month: 100 yen), unchanged from February onions (3 stalks): 238 yen (last month: 238 yen), 198 yen from February onwards It is predicted that the supply of green onions will catch up to a certain extent from February onwards, and the price will drop slightly. On the other hand, Chinese cabbage, which was 98 yen last month, has risen to 198 yen. According to President Akiba, this pace of increase will accelerate, and it is likely to be around 250 to 300 yen from February onwards. Due to the lack of rain, cabbage is not growing well, so there is a shortage and prices are rising. ■ "Recommended as a substitute for 'hot pot vegetables'" Cabbage is expected to be reduced in price. Chinese cabbage is a main ingredient in hot pots, but President Akiba also said, "We also use cabbage as a substitute for hot pot vegetables." Last month, it was expensive at 500 yen per head, but now it is 380 yen and is likely to go down from here. The reason for the price reduction is that demand from the restaurant industry has decreased after the end of year-end parties and Coming of Age Ceremonies. Also, the rain in January is causing the cabbage to grow rapidly. President Akiba said, "We think the price will be reduced to around 200 yen in February and March. We recommend it as a substitute for 'hot pot vegetables.'" Holan Caster: It can sometimes be cheaper to buy a whole head rather than in small portions, and it requires small ingenuity and effort, such as buying when it's cheap and freezing it. Former Japanese national swimming team member Matsuda Takeshi: It may depend on the number of people, but I think it's cheaper to cook at home than to eat out, so I think it's important to be creative with preservation methods and so on. There are a lot of people eating in my household, so I haven't been buying beef lately. Chicken and pork are less fatty and easier to cook, so I feed them a lot (to my children). ■Subsidies for electricity and gas bills to resume from January usage Inoue anchor: As utility costs rise, the government will resume subsidies for electricity and gas bills. Compared to the previous month... ●Tokyo Electric Power Company: Price drop of 647 yen ●9 other major electric power companies: Price drop of 575 to 650 yen ●4 city gas companies including Tokyo Gas: Price drop of 224 to 294 yen The total subsidy is... (https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/list/articl... ▼TBS NEWS DIG Official website https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/ ▼Please subscribe to our channel! / @tbsnewsdig ▼Information provided by "TBS Insiders" https://www.tbs.co.jp/news_sp/tbs-ins... ▼Video provided by "TBS Scoop Post" https://www.tbs.co.jp/news_sp/toukou.... #News #news #TBS #newsdig