Japan core inflation holds at 1.4% in May (opens in new tab)

Japan’s core consumer price index, which excludes volatile fresh food, rose 1.4% year on year in May, matching April’s pace and market expectations but staying below the Bank of Japan’s 2% target for a fourth straight month, government data showed Friday. Headline inflation rose to 1.5% from 1.4%, while the core-core measure, which excludes fresh food and energy, eased to 1.8% from 1.9%. Fuel and utility subsidies helped cap the overall increase: energy costs fell 2.5% year on year, gasoline ...