Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi — who was appointed leader in October — has promised to fight inflation as a major priority, with public discontent over rising prices a contributor to the downfall of her two predecessors.

The year-on-year rise in consumer prices, which excludes volatile fresh food, jumped from 1.6% in February, and was higher than market expectations of 1.7%.

Japan’s central bank warned last month that it expected inflation to increase because of the “recent rise in crude oil prices” caused by the Middle East war.

Friday’s data comes after inflation fell in February to its lowest level since 2022.

But gasoline prices were 5.4% down in March after the government began an emergency subsidy programme to drive down the cost.

Japan depends on the Middle East for around 95% of its oil imports.