The corporate goods price index for September, regarded as a factor in the Bank of Japan's rate-hike decision, rose 6.8% year on year, slowing from 7.6% in August. Import prices rose 24.5% due to the weaker yen, and future developments are drawing attention.
The corporate goods price index for September released by the Bank of Japan rose 6.8% year on year. The rate of increase slowed from 7.6% in August and fell below the market forecast of 7.6%.
The yen-based import price index rose 24.5% year on year, with the weaker yen pushing up import costs and increasing companies' procurement burden.
By product category, chemicals rose 13.3%, plastics rose 12.8%, and non-ferrous metals rose 40.2%. Agricultural, forestry and fishery products, meanwhile, fell 13.3%.
As for market and corporate developments, the Nikkei Average fell 2.6% on 13 October, prompting speculation that exchange-rate and price developments will influence future policy decisions.