Consumer inflation in the Tokyo metropolitan area eased in June but remained firmly above the Bank of Japan’s 2% target, leaving the central bank balancing on a policy tightrope.

Core consumer inflation in Japan's capital slowed sharply in June due to temporary cuts to utility bills but stayed well above the central bank's 2% target, keeping alive market expectations for further interest rate hikes.

TOKYO] Core consumer inflation in Tokyo slowed in June but stayed well above the Bank of Japan’s (BOJ) 2 per cent target, data showed on Friday (Jun 27), keeping alive market expectations for further interest rate hikes.