From rice balls to nappies, prices are rising in Japan. Unlike inflation seen in many other places, the increases are long-sought, but also unlikely to last, analysts say.
Since the 1990s, the country has swung between periods of sluggish inflation and deflation, where prices are falling both considered bad for growth.
The central bank has tried an array of policies, including pushing interest rates to rock-bottom, to encourage spending and reach a 2 percent inflation target, seen as key to boosting prosperity in the world’s third-largest economy.
It has not worked: Last year, the price of goods, not including volatile fresh food,
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Reuters