Japan’s consumer prices rose 3.1 per cent in March, matching last month’s figure and roughly in line with expectations, as inflation slows from four-decade highs, government data showed Friday.
The figure, which excludes volatile fresh food prices, was marginally higher than market expectations of a 3.0 percent rise and even with February numbers.
Friday’s figure comes a week before the Bank of Japan’s first policy decision under new governor Kazuo Ueda, who has said the central bank’s longstanding monetary easing policy is “appropriate.”
The 3.1 percent figure is above the two-percent target, which has been surpassed every month since April last year.— AFP
