TOKYO (AFX-ASIA) - The nationwide consumer price index in February fell 0. 3 pct from January after being unchanged month-on-month in January, the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications said.
The February CPI declined by 0.1 pct year-on-year following a 0.1 pct rise in December.
In February, the core CPI, excluding fluctuations in fresh food prices, fell 0.2 pct month-on-month after declining by 0.5 pct in January, it said.
Core CPI in February fell 0.6 pct year-on-year following a 0.5 pct fall in the previous month, marking the 17th consecutive fall and the largest year-on-year fall on record, it said.
In February, textile product prices fell 2.2 pct from a year earlier following a 1.8 pct fall in the previous month, while fuel product prices rose 5.1 pct year-on-year following a 5.4 pct rise in the previous month.
The Cabinet Office said it did not notice any fundamental change to the "somewhat weak" trend of overall prices.