Wholesale inflation slowest since March 2021
Govt subsidy on utility bills weighs on wholesale prices
Easing inflation may keep BOJ stimulus intact for now

TOKYO, Aug 10 Reuters Japan39;s wholesale inflation eased for a seventh month in July as pressure from high global commodity prices eased, a development economists say is likely to encourage the central bank to keep its monetary stimulus in place.

The 3.6 rise in the corporate goods price index CGPI, which measures the price companies charge each other for their goods and services, is slightly above the median market forecast for a 3.5 annual increase and follows a 4.3 annual increase in June.

It was the slowest wholesale inflation since March 2021 when prices turned positive to mark 1.0 growth, Bank of Japan BOJ data showed.

After peaking at 10.6 in December, wholesale inflation has decelerated for seven months in a row. On the month, wholesale prices rose 0.1, up for the first time in three months.

The data confirmed that import pressures on inflation have eased, which in turn affects the cost of corporate goods, while commodity prices have also stabilised.

Given that the input cost runs its course, pricehike pressures will gradually wane. As domestic corporate goods prices continue to slow, consumer prices will also slow from autumn, said Takeshi Minami, chief economist at the Norinchukin Research Institute.

As such, the current largescale stimulus will remain in place for the time being, he added….