Japan exports boom in November, but inflation not following script

Tokyo

JAPANESE exports accelerated sharply in November, yet again pointing to growing momentum in the world's third biggest economy. There was just one catch: inflation remained stubbornly low and well off the central bank's 2 per cent target.

The combination of steady growth and benign consumer prices means that the Bank of Japan will lag other major central banks in exiting crisis-era monetary stimulus, with analysts widely expecting Bank of Japan (BOJ) governor Haruhiko Kuroda to keep the liquidity tap wide open at a meeting later this week.