Japan February Inflation Rate Weaker than Estimated

Japan's consumer price inflation stood at 0.2% yoy in February 2019, unchanged from the prior month's 15-month low figure, below market consensus of 0.3%. Both prices of food and transport fell for the third month in a row, while cost of housing was flat after falling for 34 straight months. Meanwhile, annual core inflation rate inched lower to 0.7% from 0.8% in January, well below the Bank of Japan's target of 2%.