物価

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 物価(ぶっか) refers to the general level of prices for goods and services.
• Basic usage: It describes general price increases adding to food expenses.
  • 最近は物価が上がり、食費の負担が増えた。

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• An individual price and the general price level
  • 価格(かかく) and 値段(ねだん) can refer to the price of an individual product. 物価 instead focuses on the general price level in a place or period.
• A high level and an increase
  • 物価が高い describes a high price level. 物価が上がる describes that level rising compared with before.