Japan core consumer prices rise 3.4% on year in April

Core consumer prices in Japan gained 3.4 percent in April from a year ago, government data showed Friday.

The rise in the core consumer price index, excluding volatile fresh food items, remained above the Bank of Japan’s 2 percent target for the 13th straight month.

The key gauge of inflation hit a four-decade high of 4.2 percent in January but its rise has been slowed by government support to reduce utility bills for households.

So-called core-core CPI, which strips away both energy and food prices, rose 4.1 percent, topping 4 percent for the first time since 1981.