Tokyo area March inflation data: Headline 2.6% y/y (prior 2.6%)

The overall CPI was the same as in February while both core measures fell a touch.

There is nothing in this data to suggest a quickening of the expected pace of Bank of Japan rate hikes – i.e. very slow:

• Bank of Japan Summary – rate hikes ahead will be slow to come

The “Excluding Fresh Food and Energy” is the closest measure to the US measure of core inflation, and while it dipped under 3% in March that 2.9% number is still strong and above the BOJ 2% target.

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Tokyo area inflation data:

• National-level CPI data for this month will follow in about three weeks, it takes longer to gather and collate the national data.
• Tokyo CPI is a sub-index of the national CPI
• It measures the change in prices of goods and services in the Tokyo metropolitan area
• Its considered a leading indicator of national CPI trends because Tokyo is the largest city in Japan and is a major economic hub
• Historically, Tokyo CPI data has been just slightly higher than national Japan CPI data. The cost of living in Tokyo is a touch higher than in most other parts of Japan. Higher rents, for example

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