Inflation in Tokyo at highest in 42 years

In Tokyo, the core consumer price index, which excludes fresh food prices, rose 4.3 percent in January from a year earlier, reaching its highest level in 42 years. Core consumer prices in Tokyo, a leading indicator of nationwide trends, rose 4.3 percent in January from a year earlier, reaching a 42-year high, putting pressure on the central bank to phase out economic support. Excluding volatile fresh food items, inflation in Tokyo has been on the rise for 17 months, according to data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. Economists had expected a 4.2 percent increase. The core consumer price index, which excludes fresh food and energy, rose 3.0 percent in January from a year earlier. Headline inflation in Tokyo was 4.4 percent annually in January. The reasons for the increase in inflation include rising energy and raw material costs and intermittent depreciation of the Japanese yen against foreign exchange rates.