Slowing inflation supports case for BoJ to wait longer

Ueda: Inflation will pick up again after a temporary lull, and a key focus will be annual wage talks culminating in March. — Bloomberg

JAPAN’S latest inflation report gives the Bank of Japan (BoJ) another reason to wait beyond next week’s meeting before ending the negative rate policy, while also adding to the case for a hike in coming months.

Growth in consumer prices excluding fresh food slowed to 2.3% in December from a year earlier, matching consensus, the internal affairs ministry reported yesterday.