Japan’s core consumer prices rose in line with expectations, reinforcing steady inflation trends amid central bank policy scrutiny.
Japan’s consumer price index increased 1.5% year-over-year in May, up from 1.4% in April, reflecting persistent inflationary pressures. The core CPI, excluding fresh food, held steady at 1.4%, matching market forecasts and prior readings.
The core CPI excluding both food and energy rose 1.8% YoY, slightly below April’s 1.9%. Analysts had anticipated stable inflation, with the data aligning closely with consensus estimates.
Following the release, the USD/JPY pair climbed 0.42% to 161.32, as traders assessed the implications for Bank of Japan policy.