Japan core inflation in September surges to its highest this year at 2.1%

Japan's core inflation in September hit its highest this year at 2.1%, overshooting analysts' expectations, on the back of elevated energy prices and higher import costs due to a weak yen. Core inflation, which strips out prices of fresh food, was in line with than the 2.1% forecast by economists polled by Reuters, and accelerated from the 1.7% in the month before. Headline inflation came in at 2.1%, while the so-called "core-core" inflation, which excludes prices of fresh food and energy and is the Bank of Japan's preferred gauge, was at 2.4%.