Japan's core inflation accelerates, keeps BOJ rate-hike chance alive

Pedestrians cross an intersection in the Shibuya district of Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024. - Photographer: Shiho Fukada/Bloomberg

TOKYO: Japan's core inflation accelerated in November as rising food and fuel costs hit households, data showed on Friday, keeping the central bank under pressure to raise interest rates.

The data, which came in the wake of the Bank of Japan's decision to maintain interest rates at 0.25% on Thursday, highlights broadening inflationary pressure that could prod the bank to raise borrowing costs further.