Group 1: Consumer Price Index and Inflation - The overall consumer price index in Japan, excluding fresh food, is reported at 111.6 (2020=100), reflecting a year-on-year increase of 3.1%, maintaining above 3% for the eighth consecutive month [1] - Food prices, excluding fresh agricultural products, have risen by 8.3%, marking a continuous increase for 12 months; rice prices have surged by 90.7%, nearly doubling from the previous year [3] Group 2: Impact of Weather and Agricultural Prices - Extreme summer heat has led to poor harvests of rice and vegetables, driving up fresh food prices; the average price of a 5-kilogram bag of rice reached 3737 yen, an increase of 195 yen from the previous week [6] - The average price of tomatoes is 40% higher than the average over the past five years, with other vegetables like cucumbers, eggplants, and carrots also seeing sustained price increases [8] Group 3: Government Subsidies and Support Measures - Local governments are implementing subsidy policies to alleviate the financial burden on residents due to rising prices [8] - Fukui Prefecture's Wakasa Town is distributing local shopping vouchers worth 10,000 yen to all residents, usable from August 9 to December 31, as part of ongoing welfare initiatives [18]

Group 1 - The overall inflation rate in the UK has reached its highest level since early last year, driven by significant increases in water and sewage charges as well as vehicle excise duty [1] - Despite the rise in these costs, there has been a decrease in motor fuel prices and clothing prices, particularly due to substantial discounts on children's clothing and women's shoes, which partially offset the inflationary pressures [1]