Concerns about prices and dissatisfaction with one¡¯s ¡°food situation¡± are at or near record highs in Japan as households struggle to make ends meet in an inflationary environment.

Consumer prices are rising in the country at more than 3% a year, with food prices increasing at an even faster pace, while wages are failing to keep up.

In a Cabinet Office survey of 2,729 Japanese adults conducted between Aug. 7 and Sept. 14, about 73% of those polled said they believe the government should prioritize measures to combat rising prices, up from 66.1% in a survey conducted in August last year.

The percentage is the highest since the 1973 oil shock led to 23% inflation a year later.

This year¡¯s survey also found an increasing number of people being dissatisfied with their food situation. A record low 61.6% indicated that they were overall satisfied with their food situation, compared with 67.6% in 2024 and 76% in 2021.

The percentage of respondents dissatisfied was 38%, a record high.

Food situation was not defined.

Satisfaction levels in other categories were essentially unchanged. The 6-percentage-point drop in dietary lifestyle satisfaction was likely caused by rising food prices, which in turn led to calls for measures to control inflation, the Cabinet Office said.

The price of rice, in particular, has increased significantly over the past year despite efforts to keep it down.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cabinet Office changed its public opinion survey methods from in-person interviews to mailed-in responses. It noted that satisfaction levels are influenced by the survey method, with face-to-face interviews often producing more socially desirable responses than mail surveys.

The annual Public Opinion Survey on the Life of the People has been conducted roughly every year since 1957.

The latest results reflect recent economic trends in Japan.

Inflation was 2.7% in August ¡ª the first time in nine months that the indicator dropped below 3%, but still well above the Bank of Japan¡¯s 2% goal.

Inflation excluding fresh foods and energy costs, which is seen by the central bank as better reflecting underlying trends, was 3.3%.

Combating rising prices is a key agenda item in recent national elections. The Liberal Democratic Party-led ruling coalition lost its majority in both chambers of parliament in the span of less than a year.

A new LDP leader will be selected in a vote on Oct. 4. The victor will almost certainly become the next prime minister. All five candidates have emphasized economic growth as their key priority.