TOKYO (AFX-ASIA) - Nationwide consumer prices in March rose 0.2 pct month-on-month after falling 0.5 pct in February, the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications said. Year-on-year, nationwide CPI in March fell 1.2 pct, after a fall of 1.6 pct in February, the agency said. Excluding fluctuations in fresh food prices, core consumer prices rose 0.2 pct month-on-month after falling 0.2 pct in February, it said. Year-on-year, core CPI in March fell 0.7 pct, after a fall of 0.8 pct. Private-sector economists had forecast March CPI would come in flat month-on-month and decline 1.3 pct year-on-year.