Q2 2025 Data Points: Key Trends in Goods and Services

Each quarter, AIRINC conducts extensive cost-of-living research across the globe to bring you the latest insights into housing trends, goods and services inflation, tax updates, and more. For Q2 2025, our Data Points research focused primarily on Europe, Asia, and mainland Southeast Asia.

In this blog, we highlight two key developments impacting assignees and mobility programs: the Japanese rice shortage and new trade-related shipping disruptions in Hong Kong.

Goods and Services Update

Japanese Rice Shortage

Starting with a severe heatwave in 2023, Japan has been struggling with a significant rice shortage. This shortage has led to a dramatic increase in prices, making rice a commodity in a country where it is both culturally important and vital to national security. Government policies regarding rice production have largely remained unchanged, including a refusal to increase production levels and a continued rejection of offers to import rice. Traditionally, there has been a strong preference for domestically grown rice in Japan, and the government is hesitant to rely on foreign supplies.

As these agricultural policies hinder the rice industry, fewer people choose to pursue farming. The profession has become less appealing compared to the more lucrative options available in urban areas. Future predictions for the rice industry indicate a pressing need to revise agricultural policies to allow for greater production and increased rice imports. While artificially fixing prices is an option, this is not widely favored and is expected to lead to further complications. Therefore, the first two strategies of increasing production levels and importing rice are preferable for lowering prices and boosting supply.

“To support mobility programs, AIRINC developed a customized Japanese rice index. By assessing rice availability in each host location, we help companies determine whether they should provide direct rice shipments to assignees when local access is limited. This ensures assignees maintain access to an essential staple, even in times of shortage.”

Hongkong Post Suspends U.S. Shipments

Hongkong Post, the government department responsible for postal services in Hong Kong, has suspended all package shipments to the United States. This decision follows the implementation of new U.S. tariffs on May 2, including the elimination of the “de minimis” exemption, which allowed goods worth under $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free. While the suspension affects all package deliveries, Hongkong Post will continue delivering document shipments to the U.S. Residents will have to use private companies for package delivery, which might have higher costs.

What This Means for Mobility Programs

Both the Japanese rice shortage and Hongkong Post’s policy shift illustrate how cost-of-living pressures and trade disruptions can directly affect assignee well-being and program costs. AIRINC’s ongoing research and customized indices, such as the Japanese rice index, equip organizations with the insights they need to adapt policies, anticipate challenges, and support assignees effectively.