Japan Inflation Slows More Than Expected in April

Japan’s inflation slowed unexpectedly in April, with core consumer prices rising 1.4% year on year after a 1.8% increase the previous month. The reading came in below the market forecast of 1.7%, underscoring a temporary easing in price pressures in the world’s third-largest economy. The data were shaped by the government’s expanded subsidies for high school education and slower price increases in some food products. Gasoline prices also fell, reflecting the impact of the government’s emergency subsidy program. Analysts warned that inflationary pressures are likely to pick up again in the coming months. The April figures suggest recent government measures have helped temper price growth, but the respite may prove short-lived.