Core CPI up for 11th straight month

December 26, 2017

Tokyo- Japan's core consumer price index for November was up 0.9 percent from a year earlier, rising for the 11th straight month, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said Tuesday.

Reflecting rises in electricity and gas rates, the year-on-year growth was the steepest in three years and one month, excluding the effects of the April 2014 consumption tax increase.

The core CPI, which excludes often volatile fresh food prices, stood at 100.7 against 100 for the base year of 2015, according to the ministry.

Electricity and city gas rates rose 7.3 percent and 7.5 percent, respectively. Gasoline prices jumped 10.5 percent.

Prices rose 1.1 percent for nonperishable food products, including beer and rice.

The overall CPI, including fresh food, grew 0.6 percent. Excluding fresh food and energy prices, the CPI rose 0.3 percent.

In December, the core CPI for Tokyo's densely populated 23 wards, a leading indicator for nationwide trends, climbed 0.8 percent from a year before to 100.3. Jiji Press