MNI DATA IMPACT: Japan March Core CPI Quickens to 0.8% Y/Y

     TOKYO (MNI) - Japan's March core inflation picked up to an annual 0.8% from

February's 0.7%, with prices for energy costs and household durable goods

rising, data from the Ministry of International Affairs and Communication

released Friday showed.

     Some notable points from the data:

     - Core consumer price index (excluding fresh food) rose 0.8% y/y, the 27th

straight year-on-year rise. MNI survey median: +0.7%. 

     - Overall CPI rose 0.5% y/y vs 0.2% in February. Energy costs led with

annualized 5.1% gain vs. +4.5% in February. 

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

fresh food and energy) was unchanged at 0.4% y/y, marking the 21th month of

gain.

     - Prices for household durable goods accelerated in March by rising 5.5%

from the 3.5% in February. Prices for education and entertainment also

strengthened to -0.1% from February's -0.6%. Prices for ex-perishable food rose

0.8%, up from the 0.6% in February.

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

--MNI Beijing Bureau; +86 10 8532 5998; email: william.bi@mni-news.com

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