Japan’s core inflation reaches 2.1%
Japan’s consumer price index excluding volatile fresh food rose 2.1% year on year in September, accelerating from 1.7% in August. ABC Color reported that the figures were published by the Statistics Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
The reading exceeded the Bank of Japan’s target for the first time since December and came a week before its next monetary policy meeting. At its September meeting, the central bank raised interest rates to 1.25%, their highest level in almost 31 years, according to ABC Color.
A measure excluding both fresh food and energy accelerated to 2.4% in September. Energy prices fell 0.6% from a year earlier, while electricity prices declined 2.4%. Gas prices increased 2.4%, compared with a 2% rise in August.
Phillip Capital projects stronger Malaysian growth
Phillip Capital Research forecast that Malaysia’s economic growth in 2026 could exceed 5.1%, RTM reported. The projection is a private-sector forecast, not an official growth figure.
The research firm cited an upswing in the global semiconductor industry driven by artificial-intelligence demand, along with resilient domestic demand. It expects Malaysia’s manufacturing sector to expand strongly over the coming quarters as global semiconductor demand increases.