Japan says prices ‘rising moderately’ for first time in more than five years

Through Tetsushi Kajimoto TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan's govt described consumer prices as "rising rather", the usage of that wording for the primary time due to the fact that October 2008, an indication that the economy is making steady growth in opposition to exiting 15 years of cussed deflation. The federal government, in its monthly financial file on Wednesday, stopped short of declaring victory in its fight against deflation. The review, following a equivalent view on Tuesday by the Bank of Japan, comes whilst the world's 0.33-largest economy grows not up to expected and faces headwinds from a looming sales-tax raise. Growth stagnated in the fourth quarter at an annualized 1.0 percent fee, a tick slower than the 1/3 quarter and smartly below forecasts of 2.eight p.c, weighed by using weak exports, non-public consumption and capital spending.