Producer prices in Japan rose by the most in more than 41 years in April. The conflict in Ukraine and a weaker yen pushed up the cost of crude oil and raw materials.

The Bank of Japan said the cost of goods traded among companies increased 10 percent in April from a year earlier. The index rose for the 14th straight month.

The spike in wholesale inflation is the biggest since January 1981, when comparable data became available.

Russia's continued offensive in Ukraine and fears about crude-oil supplies led to increases in prices of petroleum products. Another factor was higher prices of steel and non-ferrous metals.

Prices rose for more than 70 percent of products covered in the index.

BOJ officials say the weaker yen is also having an impact on the prices companies charge each other.
They say they will carefully monitor the impact that the situation in Ukraine has on the global commodity market.