Japan's consumer prices rise 3.0% in September

Japan's consumer prices for September rose 3.0 percent from a year earlier, marking the 16th straight monthly increase, Japanese Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry said Friday.
The core consumer price index, excluding fresh foods, stood at 103.5 against the 2010 base of 100, according to the ministry. The rise was nearly in line with analysts' forecast.
The prices of energy and household durable goods grew 5.2 percent and 5.7 percent, respectively, but the pace was slower than the 6.8 percent rise and the 6.6 percent gain in August. Those of nonperishable foods climbed 4.2 percent, the same pace as in August.
The sales tax change in April has pushed the inflation rate up by about two percentage points, according to Japan's central bank, but it aims to achieve the 2-percent inflation goal without the effect of the tax change by next year.