TOKYO -- Japan's core consumer price index climbed 2.8% in September from a year earlier, down from a 3.1% increase in August as the pace of hikes in the cost of food slowed, official data showed on Friday.
The index, which excludes volatile fresh food, indicates September's inflation rate was the slowest since August 2022. But price increases remained above the Bank of Japan's 2% target, exceeding the threshold for the 18th consecutive month.
