Japan Core Consumer Prices Up 2.5 Pct in May

   Tokyo, June 21 (Jiji Press)--Japan's core consumer prices grew 2.5 pct from a year before in May, up for the 33rd consecutive month and accelerating by 0.3 percentage point from April, the internal affairs ministry said Friday.
   The faster growth came as electricity rates posted their first year-on-year increase in 16 months due to a hike in renewable energy surcharges.
   The core consumer price index, which excludes volatile fresh food prices, stood at 107.5 against the 2020 base of 100. Prices rose for 410 of the 522 items used to calculate the index.
   Energy prices climbed 7.2 pct, with electricity rates up 14.7 pct and gasoline prices up 4.5 pct.
   Nonperishable food prices rose 3.2 pct due to rising raw material and logistics costs, although the pace of increase slowed for the ninth straight month. Prices of imported foods, such as U.S. beef, rose on a weaker yen.

(2024/06/21-12:37)

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