MNI DATA IMPACT: Japan Feb Core CPI +0.7% Y/Y, +0.1% M/M

--Japan Feb Core CPI +0.7% Y/Y; MNI Median +0.8% Y/Y; Jan +0.8% Y/Y

--Japan Feb Core-Core CPI +0.4% Y/Y; Jan +0.4% Y/Y

--Japan Feb CPI Energy Costs +4.5% Y/Y; Jan +4.9% Y/Y

--Japan Feb CPI Food Ex-Perishables +0.6% Y/Y; Jan +0.6% Y/Y

--Japan Feb CPI Household Durable Goods 3.5% Y/Y; Jan +0.2% Y/Y

     TOKYO (MNI) - Japan's February annual core consumer inflation rate slowed

to an annual 0.7% from January's 0.8%, with prices for household durable goods

picking up as energy costs fell, data from the Ministry of International Affairs

and Communication released Friday showed.

     The key points from the latest CPI data:

     -- The national average core consumer price index (excluding fresh food)

rose 0.7% on year in February, the 26th straight year-on-year rise. Growth was

lower than seen in an MNI survey of analysts, which looked for a 0.8% increase.

CPI increased by 0.1% on a monthly basis.

     --Overall CPI was unchanged at 0.2% on year in February, weighed in part by

by lower energy costs, which reported an annualized 4.5% gain (+4.9% in

January). 

     -- The underlying inflation rate, measured by the core-core CPI (excluding

fresh food and energy) rose 0.4% on year in February, unchanged from the January

PRINT, marking the 20th consecutive year-on-year rise.

     -- Prices for household durable goods rose quickly in February to 3.5% from

the 0.2% in January. Education and entertainment also improved, falling just

0.6% after January's 1.6% drop. 

     -- Prices for accommodation slowed to 3.5% in February from 5.8% in

January. Prices for Food Ex-Perishables rose 0.6%, as in January.

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

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