A supermarket north of Tokyo is purchasing smaller amounts of newly harvested rice than usual due to its high price. Instead, the retailer is increasing its handling of last year's rice, which is relatively cheaper.
The outlet in Saitama Prefecture has been selling newly harvested rice since mid-August. Five-kilogram bags are about 1,000 yen, or nearly 7 dollars, higher compared to the same period last year.
A survey shows that the average price of a 5-kilogram bags of rice sold at about 6,000 supermarkets, drugstores and other types of retailers across the country over the week through Sunday stood at 4,210 yen, or roughly 28 dollars, including tax. That is up by 135 yen from the previous week.
Supermarket officials say new rice sales tend to increase around this time of year. But they say last year's crop is selling better. They add that the number of packages of the older rice sold last month is more than twice the figure for new rice.
The officials say last year's rice occupies the same sales space with that for the new rice.
A shopper in his 70s said he feels that a 5-kilogram bag is expensive when its price exceeds 4,000 yen. He noted he wants to buy new rice but now chooses last year's crop. He added he hopes prices will fall a bit if more rice goes into circulation.
The rice buyer at the outlet said it is rare for older rice to be selling well at this time of year.
The government says this year's harvest of table rice is expected to be 630,000 tons larger than last year's.
The supermarket officials say purchase prices of new rice may decline.
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