AI Data Insight
Japan's Import Price Index for the third quarter of 2026 (July) climbed to 199.7, up significantly from 196.6 in the previous period (June), reflecting the ongoing pressure of import costs. Under the double blow of a depreciating yen and crude oil prices pushed up by the situation in the Middle East, high costs are rapidly transmitting to domestic enterprises. This not only exacerbates the risk of corporate bankruptcies but also makes the market more convinced that the Bank of Japan (BOJ) will initiate a new round of interest rate hikes in the short term.