Japanese inflation slowed in January, government data showed Friday, in welcome news for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi after her recent election landslide win.
Soaring prices in Asia’s number-two economy contributed to the downfall of Takaichi’s two predecessors and Japan’s first woman premier has made fighting inflation a priority.
Excluding fresh food, “core” consumer prices rose 2.0 percent year-on-year, down from a 2.4 percent increase in December and in line with market expectations, the data showed.
Also stripping out energy prices, inflation mellowed by more than expected to 2.6 percent from 2.9 percent in January, compared to the median forecast of 2.7 percent.
Unadjusted, consumer prices rose 1.5 percent compared to 2.1 percent in December, also constituting a bigger drop than expected, with market consensus 1.6 percent.
Petrol prices fell 14.6 percent, thanks in part to government subsidies making fuel less expensive at the pump for motorists.
But the cost of food excluding fresh produce rose 6.2 percent, and the price of rice — which doubled last year — soared 27.9 percent.
Takaichi was due to give a policy address in parliament later on Friday.
She was formally reappointed as prime minister on Wednesday, 10 days after her historic landslide election victory.
The 64-year-old won a two-thirds majority for her party in the snap lower house elections on February 8.
Source: Insider Paper
