Japan Dec core consumer inflation ticks up, but far from BOJ's target

The data release came after the BOJ on Tuesday revised down its consumer price forecasts, despite the central bank having nudged up its economic growth projections. The BOJ kept its policy unchanged this week and Governor Haruhiko Kuroda(pic) reiterated the central bank's resolve to maintain its ultra-easy policy in light of soft inflation and lingering uncertainty abroad.

TOKYO: Japan's core consumer prices rose in December from a year earlier, data showed on Friday, nudging up from the previous month, but inflation was still well short of the central bank's elusive 2% target.

The tame data, which was also boosted by a sales tax increase last October, underscored the challenge faced by the country's central bank, which was expected to maintain its current stimulus policy, analysts said.