With regard to prices, import prices are rising as the decline in international commodity prices has stopped and the yen has been weakening. Domestic wholesale prices continue to decline as a whole mainly in machinery and chemical products, although the decrease in the prices such as of electronic parts seems to have ceased.
Consumer prices are declining somewhat faster from the effects of the past decline in crude oil prices, while the prices of imported products and their substitutes continue to decrease. Corporate service prices continue to decline. As for the conditions surrounding price developments, the effects of the past decline in crude oil prices are likely to continue for a time.