This photo taken on May 18, 2016, shows the head office of the Bank of Japan in Tokyo. (Mainichi)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Wholesale prices in Japan jumped 5.6 percent in July from a year earlier, the fastest pace of increase in nearly 13 years, amid rising energy and commodity prices as economic activity picks up, Bank of Japan data showed Thursday.

       The prices of goods traded between companies rose for the fifth straight month and steep year-on-year gains have been seen in recent months -- 5.0 percent in June and 5.1 percent in May. The latest figure represents the steepest rise since September 2008, according to the central bank.

       A weaker yen also led to higher raw material costs for companies, the data showed. Import prices surged 27.9 percent while those of exports gained 11.2 percent, both in yen terms.

       Wholesale prices normally have a delayed effect on consumer prices. The BOJ is struggling to hit its 2 percent inflation target, measured in consumer prices, even as its U.S. and European peers are carefully monitoring rapid inflation.

       The latest survey showed that petroleum and coal product prices soared 38.8 percent from a year earlier, tracking higher crude oil prices. The pace of rise slowed from a 42.0 percent gain in June.

       Prices for wood and lumber products surged 33.1 percent on supply shortages due to growing demand for house building and other uses.

       Nonferrous metal prices gained 32.3 percent while those for scrap and waste jumped 81.2 percent. Prices of textile products, which often indicate the strength of domestic demand, were up 0.5 percent.

       "The global economic recovery continues in line with progress in vaccinations (against COVID-19) and wholesale prices are facing upward pressure," a BOJ official said. "But coronavirus cases have been resurging at home and abroad, and uncertainty is rather increasing."

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