Japan January inflation seen easing; factory output to rise

Tokyo

JAPAN'S core inflation is seen slowing for a sixth month in January while factory output is expected to rise, underlining the policy challenge facing the Bank of Japan (BOJ) as it strives to speed up economic growth and achieve its 2 per cent price target.

Stripping out the effects of a sale tax hike, the nation's core consumer price index (CPI) - excluding volatile fresh food but includes oil products - is forecast to have increased 0.3 per cent year on year last month, a Reuters poll showed.