Japan's Core Inflation Slows for Second Straight Month
Japan's core inflation slowed for the second consecutive month in April, reaching 2.2% year-on-year. This follows a 2.6% increase in March. The nationwide core consumer price index, excluding fresh food, matched the median market forecast.
The "core core" index, excluding both fresh food and energy costs, also saw a slowdown, rising 2.4% after a 2.9% increase in March. This index is closely monitored by the Bank of Japan (BOJ) as a key gauge of broader inflation trends.
Inflation Data and BOJ Policy Decisions
Inflation data plays a crucial role in the BOJ's future decisions on rate hikes. The central bank aims to gradually push interest rates higher after ending negative rates in March. This marks a significant shift away from its decade-long ultra-loose monetary policy.
The BOJ emphasizes the importance of achieving its 2% price target and strong wage growth for normalizing policy. However, recent developments have led to speculation of further BOJ policy tightening this year.
Rising Bond Yields and Yen Weakness
Mounting bets for further BOJ policy tightening have pushed Japan's 10-year government bond yield to 1% this week, a level not seen since 2013. This surge is partly driven by the yen's persistent weakness, which could force the BOJ to move forward the next interest rate hike to mitigate its impact on the cost of living.
A weakening yen, while pushing up import prices, threatens to further erode households' purchasing power and weigh on consumption. The BOJ faces the challenge of balancing inflation control with supporting economic growth in the face of a weakening currency.