Japan’s core inflation accelerated in May due to energy levies but an index that strips away the effect of fuel slowed for the ninth straight month, data showed on Friday, complicating the central bank’s decision on how soon to raise interest rates.
The slowdown in so-called “core core” inflation, which is closely watched by the Bank of Japan as a key gauge of demand-driven price moves, casts doubt on the bank’s view that rising wages will underpin consumption and keep inflation on track to durably hit its 2% target.
The core consumer…