MNI 5 THINGS: Oct Tokyo Core CPI Unchanged On Month at +1.0%

     TOKYO (MNI) - The annual consumer inflation rate in Tokyo, a leading

indicator of the national average, was flat in October from September, propped

up by higher energy and processed food prices, data from the Ministry of

Internal Affairs and Communications released Friday showed.

     The key points from the latest Tokyo CPI data:

     - The Tokyo core consumer price index (excluding fresh food) rose 1.0% on

year in October, in line with the MNI median economist forecast. It was the 18th

straight y/y rise since the +0.1% in May 2017.

     - Energy costs accelerated to +7.4% in October from +6.4% in September. It

contributed a positive 0.37 percentage point to total Tokyo CPI in October and

the contribution was 0.05 point higher than in September.

     - Tokyo saw processed food prices higher by 1.0% on year in October after

+1.1% in September, pushing up the total CPI by 0.21 percentage point. The

contribution from this item was 0.02 point lower in October than in September.

     - The core CPI was again supported by the robust overseas holiday tours

costs, which rose 15.4% y/y in October, after jumping 13.0% in September (August

saw a gain of just 3.9%).

     - The core-core CPI (excluding fresh food and energy) -- a key indicator of

the underlying trend of inflation -- rose 0.6% on year in October in Tokyo,

decelerating from +0.7% in September.

--MNI Beijing Bureau; +86 (10) 8532-5998; email: wanxia.lin@marketnews.com

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com

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