Japan’s Core CPI in Decline For 12th Straight Month in July

Core consumer prices across Japan extended their decline for the 12th straight month during July, exerting deflationary pressures on an

Aiswarya Gopan•Friday, August 20, 2021•1 min read

Japan's Core CPI in Decline For 12th Straight Month in July

Core consumer prices across Japan extended their decline for the 12th straight month during July, exerting deflationary pressures on an economy that is already struggling because of the pandemic. Days released by the government shows that core CPI fell by 0.2% YoY during the month of July, although the pace of decline was lower than the 0.4% forecast by economists and the 0.5% drop seen in the previous month.

On a positive note, however, the drop in consumer prices is getting smaller than in the previous months. Although, this is more due to the rising prices of commodities globally than due to a strong rise in consumer consumption unlike in the West.

This is evident from the core core CPI reading, which excludes volatile food and energy costs, and has registered a 0.6% YoY drop in July. Japan is reeling under a continued increase in infections and has extended a state of emergency into mid-September, which could further keep consumers cautious about spending and exert pressure on the CPI.

Economists expect the BOJ to revise its inflation outlook in the upcoming quarterly review meeting scheduled for October. In the latest estimates shared during its July meeting, the Japanese central bank forecast that the CPI could rise by 0.6% during the current financial year ending in March 2022.

Impact on the JPY

USD/JPY

The Japanese yen is exhibiting signs of weakness against the US dollar on Friday, although losses remain limited due to its appeal as a safe haven currency. However, with the weak outlook for the Japanese economy in the near term, the JPY is likely to find its strength only due to the market sentiment.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR See More

Aiswarya Gopan

Financial Writer & Editor - Asia & Europe Desk

Aiswarya Gopan is a former cybersecurity analyst, tech journalist and market researcher, who joins FX Leaders with over three years of experience in the blockchain industry. Aiswarya's areas of focus include market news out of the Asian and European markets as well as news coverage on cryptocurrencies.