91AV原创 inflation slowed for the first time in four months, largely reflecting the effect of government subsidies, in data released hours before the Bank of Japan announced an interest rate hike.
The consumer price index (CPI) excluding fresh food rose 1.7% in August from a year earlier, easing from a 1.8% pace in July, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said Friday. Economists had expected the rate of increase to remain unchanged.
While the data showed a slight slowing of inflation, the reading didn’t change the calculus on Friday’s BOJ rate decision, especially given widespread expectations that the price trend will pick up in the coming months.
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