Around 76% of young people in Japan saw an increase in their monthly food spending compared with last year amid ongoing inflation, a survey by a nonprofit organization has found.

DxP, an organization based in Osaka that supports young people in need, said that some respondents have reduced the number of meals or amount of food they eat.

The survey was conducted in November on 8,502 people who use DxP¡¯s consultation service via Line, a free messaging app. Valid responses came from 440 people, age 21.3 on average.

According to the survey, 62.3% of respondents, the largest group, cited food as an area of expenditure that increased from the previous year. While 76.0% said that their monthly food spending has increased year on year, 6.0% said their food costs remain the same or have decreased.

Asked how to counter rising food costs, with multiple answers allowed, 63.7% of those who spent more on food, the biggest portion, said they try to look for cheaper ingredients.

They were followed by 43.7% who said they reduced the amount of food or number of meals they eat, and 32.0% who said they worked more. Some respondents said they borrowed money in various ways, such as using cash advance and consumer finance services, to cover their food costs.

In a free comment section, a 20-year-old woman said that high rice prices forced her to eat instant cup noodles so frequently that she got sick. A 19-year-old woman said that her take-home pay was lagging behind the rising cost of living, complaining that food ingredient prices are too high.

¡°While prices have risen, the amounts of scholarships and take-home pay have not changed, creating a serious situation in which people cannot help but cut food costs,¡± said DxP head Noriaki Imai. ¡°We hope the central and local governments will enhance food support as soon as possible.¡±