A new survey in Japan has found that October will see the most price hikes of food and drink items so far this year.
Private research firm Teikoku Databank polled nearly 200 major food and beverage makers. It found that the prices of about 2,900 items are set to rise this month.
Nearly half are in the alcohol and other beverages category. This includes bottled water and tea.
The prices of processed foods, such as ham and sausage, as well as confectionary products including chocolate, are also on the rise.
Teikoku Databank says unusual weather patterns have raised material prices. It adds that a lack of workers across Japan has pushed up logistics and labor costs.
The total number of items affected by price hikes this year is expected to be about 40 percent of the total for 2023.
Teikoku Databank says some consumers are spending less on food or opting for low-priced items. It says this trend is driving some manufacturers cautious about raising prices to reduce volume instead.