The fading shadow of reflationists in the Bank of Japan, and the latest addition to the board of an academic favouring an end to ultra-low interest rates, will likely bring the central bank's thinking closer to global peers taking a more conventional approach on monetary policy.

An uptick in inflation in the Tokyo metropolitan area and solid outturns in other key Japanese economic data support the Bank of Japan’s plan to pursue more interest-rate increases.

Underlying inflation in Japan is still slightly below the central bank’s target of 2%, Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda said, underlining that it is in no hurry to raise interest rates.

Core inflation in Japan's capital hit 2.5%, marking the fastest annual pace in nearly a year, well exceeding the central bank's 2% target and keeping alive market expectations for further interest rate hikes.

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. A Japanese flag flutters at the Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo on July 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Shuji ...

The Bank of Japan raised interest rates on Friday to their highest since the 2008 global financial crisis, underscoring its confidence that rising wages will keep inflation stable around its 2% target.

Consumer prices excluding fresh food in the capital climbed 2.5% in January from a year earlier, the fastest pace since last February, the internal affairs ministry said Friday. Overall price gains also sped up to 3.4%, the fastest clip in nearly two years, as the cost of fresh food jumped.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Core consumer prices in Japan's capital rose 2.5% in January from a year earlier, data showed on Friday, keeping alive market expectations for further interest rate hikes.

TOKYO - Japan is considering offering support for a $44 billion gas pipeline in Alaska as it seeks to court U.S. President Donald Trump and forestall potential trade friction, according to three officials familiar with the matter.

TOKYO (Reuters) - The Japanese government on Tuesday nominated Waseda University political science and economics professor Junko Koeda to join the Bank of Japan's nine-member board. Koeda would replace former economist Seiji Adachi, whose five-year term ends on March 25.

Japan's central bank has raised its key interest rate to about 0.5% from 0.25%, noting that inflation is holding at a desirable target level TOKYO -- The Bank of Japan raised its key interest rate ...

TOKYO: Core inflation in Japan's capital hit 2.5% to mark the fastest annual pace in nearly a year, data showed on Friday, well exceeding the central bank's 2% target and keeping alive market expectations for further interest rate hikes.