Japans service-sector inflation reached 2.9% year-on-year in December, driven by rising costs in accommodation and transportation, according to Bank of Japan (BOJ) data. While slightly lower than Novembers 3.

Japan's core consumer price index—which includes gasoline prices but does not include fresh food—rose 3% annually in December, reaching its highest level since August 2023, up from 2.7% in November and matching consensus.

Japan's annual wholesale inflation held steady at 3.8 per cent in December on stubbornly high food costs, data showed on Thursday, highlighting persistent price pressures that may prod the central bank to raise interest rates next week.

Japan's core consumer prices rose 3.0% in December year-on-year to mark the fastest annual pace in 16 months, likely cementing a central bank rate hike later in the day and retaining bets that borrowing costs will keep rising from ultra-low levels.