The initiatives of the public and private sectors, such as those just mentioned, have been carried out in a remarkably wide range of fields. The promotion of women's participation in the economy -- the next topic I will touch upon -- is one example. III.
Inflation has risen steadily in Japan. Excluding food and energy, the April figure for CPI inflation is 2.3 percent, or around 0.8 percent if we subtract the effects of the hike in the consumption tax rate.