Japan consumer prices down 0.3% in March ahead of BoJ decision

Tokyo (AFP) – Japan’s core consumer prices fell a worse-than-expected 0.3 percent in March on-year, the government said on Thursday, ahead of a central bank meeting where policymakers are expected to expand already aggressive stimulus measures.

The core consumer price index reading released by the Internal Affairs Ministry was worse than a Bloomberg forecast of a 0.2 percent fall. CPI, which excludes volatile fresh food prices, was mired at zero in January and February.