Japan January Core CPI 3.2% y/y vs. 3.1% expected

Japan inflation data, January 2025

Headline inflation comes in at 4.0%

• prior 3.6%

Core, that is excluding food, comes in at 3.2%

• expected 3.1%, prior 3.0%

Core-core (this is excluding food and energy) cpomes in at 2.5%

• expected 2.5%, prior 2.4%

Once again come the solid inflation readings from Japan.

This will be an input into the next, and subsequent, Bank of Japan policy decisions. If the target is 2% and headline inflation is 4% and core is 3.2% and core-core is 2.5% … is it just me or what wouldn’t a rate hike be attractive?

Meanwhile, USD/JPY update … it fell to its lowest since December 3 last year before moving back above 149.50.

This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at www.forexlive.com.