As prices continue to soar, some of the restaurants that serve hot pot dishes, the staple of the upcoming season, have already raised their prices from last year before the full-scale winter has set in.
At a chanko nabe restaurant in Sumida Ward, Tokyo
Of these, at a hot pot specialty store in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, the signature product is chanko nabe, which is made by boiling seasonal seafood, meat and vegetables in a special soup stock. , rose.
In particular, fish and shellfish are sluggish due to soaring fuel costs, and according to Toyosu Market, where they are purchased, the price of salmon at the end of last month increased by 36% compared to the same period last year.
In addition to the sardines and shrimps used in the store's specialty tsumire, the purchase price of the chicken bones used in the soup stock has risen since last year. I raised the price by 10% from 3300 yen to 3630 yen.
Last year and the year before last, the number of customers at the store was low due to the corona crisis, so we have high hopes for this winter, and we do not plan to raise prices any further, but if prices continue to soar after next year, we will make further revisions. I think it must be done.
A woman in her 50s who visited the store said, ``Every time I go to the supermarket, I feel that the price is going up, but nabe is still relatively easy to make, so I would like to enjoy it at home with a little less ingredients.'' rice field.
A person in charge of a hot pot restaurant said, "In order to preserve the historical taste, we have to use good ingredients, but prices are high and it is difficult to purchase. I'm worried,' he said.
Home appliance mass retailers Heaters with power-saving functions are popular
As electricity bills continue to rise, heaters with power-saving functions are gaining popularity at home appliance mass retailers ahead of winter.
At a consumer electronics retail store in Saitama Prefecture, power-saving air conditioners, which can reduce electricity costs by 20% to 30% compared to regular air conditioners, are selling about 20% more than the same period last year. It's called.
In addition, electric carpets and electric blankets are popular as heating appliances that can greatly reduce the amount of electricity used compared to air conditioners, and sales are said to have increased by about 40% compared to last year.
A mother who came to buy an electric blanket with her son said, "My monthly electricity bill has increased by about 10,000 yen compared to last year. I came looking for something," he said.
A person in charge of a consumer electronics mass retailer said, "I feel that more and more customers are concerned about their electricity bills when purchasing electrical appliances. Next month, we will be asked to save electricity, so please consult with us when purchasing. I want you," he said.
Expert "Product prices that rely on imports for raw materials tend to rise"
Naoko Kuga, senior researcher at NLI Research Institute, said, ``When we analyze the items for which prices are rising, we find that the prices of things that are highly necessary in our lives, such as food and daily necessities, are rising in addition to electricity bills. If the rate of increase in wages exceeds the rate of increase in prices, there will be some leeway, so the prime minister is making requests to companies. influence,” he analyzes.
He added, "The current rise in the consumer price index is mainly due to the rise in the prices of imported raw materials, but the exchange rate will move at the same speed as the rapid depreciation of the yen from this summer to autumn. The rate of increase in the consumer price index is expected to slow down from the beginning of 2019. However, the structure will not change significantly, so prices of products that rely on imports for raw materials tend to rise easily. It is expected to continue,” he said.