MNI DATA IMPACT: Tokyo December Core CPI Edged Up 0.8% Y/Y

     TOKYO (MNI) - Tokyo's annual consumer inflation rate, a leading indicator

of the national average, edged up modestly in December driven by rising food

prices, the latest data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

showed on Friday.

     The following are the key points:

     --Tokyo's core consumer price index (excluding fresh food) accelerated to

0.8% year-on-year in December, faster than the 0.6% y/y growth recorded in

November. It was the 32st straight monthly y/y rise since the 0.1% gain seen in

May 2017.

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

underlying inflationary trend -- edged up 0.9% on year in December, higher than

last month's 0.7% increase.

     --Energy costs fell 1.2% y/y in December, barely changed from the 1.3% y/y

decrease last month. Processed food prices rose 1.8% y/y, 0.1 percentage points

higher than in November. 

     --Prices of household durable goods gained 3.9% y/y, compared with last

month's 2.4% y/y. Overseas tour prices fell 2.0% y/y from the previous 2.7% y/y

decline.

--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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