Japan’s producer prices climbed 4.9% year-on-year in April 2026, accelerating from an upwardly revised 2.9% increase in March and beating market expectations of a 3% gain. This marked the fastest annual pace since May 2023, reflecting strong cost pressures following a surge in energy prices driven by supply chain disruptions from the war in Iran. On a monthly basis, producer prices rose 2.3%, up from a 1.0% increase in the previous month and registering the sharpest monthly advance since April 2014.