Japan Inflation Accelerates In November

Japan's core consumer prices rose 2.7% in November compared to a year earlier, marking the first acceleration in three months due to reduced government utility bill subsidies and higher rice prices, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications reported, as per a report by Kyodo News.  

Core CPI, excluding both energy and fresh food, rose by 2.4%, slightly higher than October's 2.3% increase.

The nationwide core consumer price index (CPI), which excludes volatile fresh food prices, followed increases of 2.3% in October and 2.4% in September. Japan's inflation rate has remained at or above the Bank of Japan's (BOJ) 2% target since April 2022.

Core CPI, excluding both energy and fresh food, rose by 2.4%, slightly higher than October's 2.3% increase.

However, Masahiro Ichikawa, chief market strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Co., suggested that the growth was unlikely to prompt immediate policy changes from the BOJ.

The BOJ decided on Thursday to maintain its policy rate at around 0.25%, emphasizing the need to analyze more wage data. Ichikawa speculated that a potential rate hike could occur as early as January.