Japan¡¯s key inflation gauge slowed by more than forecast as government steps to ease costs of living offset the impact from a weak yen and elevated energy prices.
Japan¡¯s core consumer price index, which excludes fresh food, rose 1.4% in April from a year earlier, the internal affairs ministry said Friday. That was lower than all estimates in a Bloomberg survey of economists. Taking out energy prices as well, the CPI climbed 1.9% on an annual basis, also below expectations.
The figure was restrained by prices of processed food, which grew at a much slower pace than in March. Fees for private high schools fell at a sharper pace and the pace of gains for durable goods eased. Energy costs fell, albeit at a slower rate than in the previous month.
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