TOKYO: Japanese consumer inflation rose for the first time in four months in February as the pace of declines in electricity and city gas fees slowed, government data showed Friday.

The core consumer price index, which excludes volatile fresh food prices, climbed 2.8 percent from a year before to 106.5 against the 2020 base of 100, rising for the 30th straight month, the internal affairs ministry said.

Electricity fees fell 2.5 percent following a 21.0 percent decline in January, and city gas rates dropped 13.8 percent after a 22.8 percent fall. The effects of government subsidies introduced in January last year to help lower electricity and gas costs waned.

Overall energy prices fell 1.7 percent, a smaller decline than January’s 12.1 percent drop.

Food prices, excluding fresh food, rose 5.3 percent.

The consumer price index, which includes fresh food prices, gained 2.8 percent. Including fresh food and energy prices, the index climbed 3.2 percent.

JIJI Press