Nikkei Asia reported that Japan may face a second wave of food price hikes. Ongoing Middle East instability has driven up prices for naphtha-derived container materials and crude oil tanker freight rates. In September, prices for 4,965 food and beverage items increased, more than triple the number from the same period last year. This could lead to further increases in consumer prices next year, offsetting Prime Minister Kishida's consumption tax relief measures.