TOKYO, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Japan's average rice price has fallen for a fifth straight week, with the agriculture ministry attributing the decline to wholesalers' attempts to reduce their inventories, local media reported on Monday.

File photo: CGTN

In the week until March 15, the average price of rice sold at around 1,000 supermarkets across Japan fell to 3,980 yen (about 25 U.S. dollars) per 5 kilograms, marking the fifth straight weekly decline, public broadcaster NHK reported, citing ministry data.

The price fell below 4,000 yen for the first time since last August, when a large volume of less expensive government stockpile rice circulated on the market, the report said.

Many people in the rice industry expect prices to keep falling, it added.