TOKYO (AFX-ASIA) - The nationwide consumer price index in May was unchanged month-on-month after rising 0.2 pct in March, the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications said. May CPI declined 0.5 pct year-on-year following a 0.4 pct fall in April, marking the fourth straight monthly fall.
In May, core CPI, which excludes fluctuations in fresh food prices, rose 0.1 pct month-on-month after rising 0.3 pct in April, it said. Core CPI in May fell 0.7 pct year-on-year following a 0.5 pct fall the previous month, marking the largest year-on-year fall on record and the 20th consecutive monthly fall, it said.
In May, textile product prices declined 2.6 pct year-on-year following a 2.7 pct fall in the previous month, while fuel product price rose 2.8 pct year-on-year following a 3.4 pct gain in the previous month.
The Cabinet Office, meantime, said, after analysing the CPI data released by the public management ministry, it did not notice any fundamental change to a weak price trend.