TOKYO, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Japan's producer price index rose 2.7 percent from a year ago in November, up for four years and nine months in a row, preliminary data by the Bank of Japan (BOJ) showed Wednesday.

The index, which measures the cost of goods traded between businesses, stood at 128.0 against the 2020 base of 100.

The price hike was mainly driven by higher prices of food and agricultural products and rises in nonferrous metal markets.

By category, prices of agricultural, forestry and fishery products surged 30.1 percent, due to factors such as soaring egg prices amid the spread of avian influenza.

Food and beverage prices, meanwhile, increased 4.9 percent.

Out of 515 items surveyed by the BOJ, prices rose for 366 items. ■