Japan's core CPI slows to 2.5% in November, services inflation persists

Japan's core consumer prices rose 2.5 percent in November from a year earlier, as hikes broadened in the services sector in a positive development for the Bank of Japan, but energy-related subsidies limited the overall increase, government data showed Friday.Despite the slowest gain since July 2022, the core consumer price index, excluding volatile fresh food items, remained above the BOJ's 2 percent target for the 20th straight month, adding to pressure on the central bank as it watches for demand-led, rather than cost-push, inflation.The key gauge of inflation was up 2.9 percent in Octobe…READ FULL ARTICLE