MNI DATA IMPACT: Japan Feb Core CPI Edged Down; Energy Drops

--Japan Feb Core CPI +0.6% Y/Y; MNI Median +0.6%; Jan +0.8% Y/Y

--Japan Feb Core-Core CPI +0.6% Y/Y; Jan +0.8% Y/Y

--Japan Feb CPI Energy Costs -0.2% Y/Y; Jan +0.8% Y/Y

     TOKYO (MNI) - Japan's annual core consumer inflation rate edged down in

February due a quick drop in energy prices, according to data from the Ministry

of International Affairs and Communication released on Thursday.

     The key points from the latest CPI data:

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

rose 0.6% y/y in February, in line with the MNI median forecast and slower than

the previous 0.8% y/y gain. The increase marks the 38th straight monthly rise.

     -- Energy costs fell 0.2% y/y, down from the 0.8% y/y gain recorded in

January, and contributed -0.01 percentage point to CPI against the 0.08

percentage point contribution last month.

     --Overall CPI decelerated to 0.4% y/y in February, following 0.7% y/y

growth in January.

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

fresh food and energy) rose 0.6% y/y in February, down from a 0.8% y/y gain in

January, the 32th consecutive year-on-year rise, the data showed.

     -- Prices for ex-perishables rose 1.8% y/y in February, down from 1.9% y/y

in January. Prices for household spending were up 0.3% y/y, much slower than the

2.8% y/y gain in the previous month. Overseas holiday tour prices dropped 9.6%

y/y, sharply down from January's 0.3% y/y gain on the back of the quickly spread

COVID-19 corona virus.

--MNI Beijing Bureau; tel: +86 (10) 8532-5998; email: flora.guo@marketnews.com

--MNI Sydney Bureau; +61 405322399; email: lachlan.colquhoun.ext@marketnews.com

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