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Investing.com-- Japanese core consumer price index inflation grew more than expected to an over two-year high in May, lending further credence to bets that the Bank of Japan will hike interest rates in the coming months.
National core CPI, which excludes volatile fresh food prices, grew 3.7% year-on-year in May, compared to expectations of 3.6%. The print was at its highest level since January 2023 also picked up from the 3.5% seen in the prior month.
A core reading that excludes both fresh food and energy prices rose to 3.3% y-o-y in May from 3.0% in the prior month. The print is closely watched by the BOJ as a gauge of underlying inflation, and remained well above the central bank’s annual target of 2%.
Underlying inflation also rose to its highest level since January 2024.
Headline national CPI fell slightly to 3.5% y-o-y from 3.6% in the prior month.
Friday’s print showed Japanese inflation remained largely on an uptrend, especially as recent increases in wages boosted private spending. Food prices were also boosted by a sharp increase in rice prices through May, amid decreasing local production.
Stronger CPI data gives the BOJ more impetus to hike interest rates, with analysts now watching for a July rate hike.
The central bank had left interest rates unchanged earlier this week. But it signaled that while it remained cautious on the economy, it was likely to increase rates if inflation continued to trend higher.
The BOJ also outlined plans to begin slowing its pace of bond tapering from 2026.