The average price of rice in Japan has declined for the first time in 18 weeks. The agriculture ministry says a 5-kilogram bag cost 4,214 yen, or about 28.5 dollars, in the week through May 4. That is down 19 yen from the previous week.



That will be little comfort to consumers, however, because prices are still about double what they were a year ago.



Schools are also feeling the impact. One city in Osaka Prefecture has decided that rice will only be served twice a week in school lunches rather than three times currently.



It says rice prices are expected to rise further and the school's budget could run short.



The agriculture ministry says rice stocks held by farming cooperatives, wholesalers and others have decreased by more than 300,000 tons from a year earlier.



The amount sold to supermarkets and other stores is also down year-on-year.



A supermarket in the northern prefecture of Hokkaido is unable to get enough rice to meet demand. What were once shelves stacked with rice are now filled with other items such as pancake mix.



Even as prices have soared, one supermarket in Tokyo is selling about 20 percent more rice than a year earlier.



But the supermarket has seen a change in the way customers buy rice. It says almost three times as many people are buying smaller 2-kilogram bags compared to last year.



Agriculture ministry data shows that the amount of rice sold at supermarkets nationwide has exceeded that for the same period last year since April, indicating strong demand despite the high prices.



One expert says people appear to be buying more rice because they are wary of possible shortages. The expert says the best way to limit price increases is for people to make purchases as usual, and only buy more rice when they are about to run out.