Tokyo's consumer inflation slowed to 1.5% year-on-year in January, dropping below 2% for the first time since October 2024. This was mainly due to lower food and energy prices. Utility subsidies and fuel tax cuts contributed to falling energy costs, while fresh food prices fell sharply by 7.9%, largely due to base effects. Core-core inflation, excluding fresh food and energy, eased to 2.4% as entertainment prices softened while housing prices rose. Headline inflation is expected to decline for an extended period this year, but the BoJ should prioritise core-core and underlying inflation trends. If core-core inflation ... (full story)