Japan inflation rate at 2.4% in Dec. on food costs, above BOJ target

TOKYO - Japan's core consumer prices in December rose 2.4 percent from a year earlier, pushed up by food costs, with the rate remaining above the Bank of Japan's 2 percent inflation target, government data showed Friday.

The increase in the nationwide consumer price index, excluding volatile fresh food, slowed from a rise of 3.0 percent in November, helped by state subsidies for gasoline, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.