Japan's core inflation slowed for a second straight month in April, likely signalling that the Bank of Japan will be patient in raising interest rates as consumption remains fragile. While inflation is tracking comfortably above the central bank's 2% target,

Consumer inflation grew at a slower pace in April but remained above the Bank of Japan’s 2% target amid growing expectations over additional interest-rate increases.

The pace of Japanese inflation slowed in April to 2.2 percent as gas bills fell, government data showed Friday, with the figure remaining above the Bank of Japan's two percent target.

Japan's core inflation slowed for a second straight month in April due to milder food inflation while staying comfortably above the central bank's 2% target, government data showed on Friday. The nationwide core consumer price index (CPI),

April was a second consecutive month of slowing core inflation in Japan, signalling that the Bank of Japan could be cautious in hiking interest rates as long as demand is still fragile. The core inflation rate dropped to 2.