Weakness in demand following the consumption tax hike and the substantial decline in crude oil prices since summer has been exerting downward pressure on prices.
It should be noted that the effects of the decline in demand following the front-loaded increase prior to the consumption tax hike have already started to wane and that the decline in crude oil prices will have positive effects on the economy of Japan, which is a commodity-importing country and will push up prices from a somewhat longer-term perspective.