スーパーのコメの平均価格、7週間ぶりに値上がり

Welcome to Japanese Daily News. I'm Maya. Today is August fourteenth. This evening's story is about rice. The average supermarket price of rice has gone up for the first time in seven weeks — but only slightly, and prices are still expected to keep falling. Let's listen.

Now let's break it down, sentence by sentence.

The agriculture ministry announced that the average price of rice sold at supermarkets nationwide rose for the first time in seven weeks.

It means average.

In the week through August ninth, rice at about one thousand supermarkets averaged three thousand two hundred twenty yen for five kilograms.

It means price — a slightly formal word often used in the news.

Last year, rice prices rose sharply, and at times they went over four thousand yen for five kilograms.

It means to exceed — to go over a number or a limit.

After that, the government put its stored reserve rice on the market, and prices gradually calmed down.

It means reserve rice — rice the government keeps in storage for emergencies.

Because private stockpiles are large, the downward trend is expected to continue.

It means a trend or tendency.

Experts predict this year's new rice will cost around three thousand yen for five kilograms.

It means a prediction or forecast.

On the other hand, some farmers worry that if prices get too low, it will be hard to keep farming.

It means a farmer, or a farming family.

Let's listen to the whole story one more time.

Time for a short quiz. Listen and try to answer.

Three thousand two hundred twenty yen.

For the first time in seven weeks.

Around three thousand yen for five kilograms.

That's all for today. Rice prices touch everyday life in Japan, so this weekly number gets a lot of attention. Thank you for listening, and see you tomorrow.