Japan's consumer inflation rate likely picked up for the fourth straight month in August, a Reuters poll of 20 economists showed, tracking comfortably above the central bank's 2% target and keeping alive expectations for more rate hikes ahead.

Inflation as measured by Japan’s producer prices slowed for the first time in eight months as the cost of energy-related items fell.

U.S. wholesale price increases mostly slowed last month, the latest evidence that inflation pressures are cooling enough for the Federal Reserve to begin cutting interest rates next week

Japan's wholesale inflation hit 2.5% in August, slowing from the previous month as the yen's rebound eased pressure on import costs, data showed on Thursday. The rise in the corporate goods price index (CGPI),

US producer prices continued to cool overall in August, showing that inflation across the economy is improving. But a closely watched measure of underlying inflation remained stubbornly elevated, reflecting the bumpiness in reining in price hikes.

Producer prices in Japan increased by 2.5% y/y in August 2024, slower than a 3.0% growth in the prior month and below market consensus of 2.8%.

The corporate goods price index (CGPI), which measures the price companies charge each other for their goods and services, rose 2.5% in August from a year earlier, Bank of Japan (BOJ) data showed, slowing from a 3.0% gain in July. It fell short of market forecasts for a 2.8% increase.