MNI DATA IMPACT: Tokyo Mar Core CPI Stable At +1.1% Y/Y

--Tokyo Mar Core-Core CPI +0.7% Y/Y; Feb +0.7%

--Tokyo Mar CPI Energy Costs +8.9% Y/Y; Feb +8.8%

--Tokyo Mar CPI Food Ex-Perishables +0.9% Y/Y; Feb +0.7%

--Tokyo Mar CPI Durable Goods +10.2% Y/Y; Feb +5.0%

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

of the national average, was unchanged at 1.1% y/y in March. Energy and durable

goods prices were both higher, while accommodation and overseas tour costs fell,

data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications released Friday

showed.

     The following are the key points from the latest Tokyo CPI data:

     --Tokyo core consumer price index (excluding fresh food) was unchanged at

1.1% on year in March, in line with the MNI median economist forecast. It was

the 23rd straight monthly y/y rise since the 0.1% gain seen in May 2017.

     --Energy costs rose by 8.9% in March, slightly up from 8.8% in February,

contributing a positive 0.45 percentage point to total Tokyo CPI. Household

durable goods prices surged 10.2% in March, accelerating from last month's 5.0%

gain. 

     --Processed food price rose to 0.9% y/y in March, quicker than the 0.7% y/y

increased registered in February. 

     --Accommodation costs slowed to 0.9% y/y from the previous 3.5% growth.

Overseas tour prices slid as well to 5.2% y/y in March from 10.6% y/y reported

in February.

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

the underlying trend of inflation -- rose 0.7% on year in March in Tokyo,

unchanged from February.

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

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

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