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Bank of Japan holds interest rates as inflation slows

The Bank of Japan kept interest rates on hold today amid lingering political uncertainty and economic concerns but said it would start offloading funds bought as part of its earlier monetary easing campaign.

Business • 22 mins

a stack of rice bags in Japan beside a price sign in yen

Rice prices up 91% year-on-year in Japan

Rice prices in Japan soared by 90.7% in July year-on-year, official data showed today, but the rate of increase slowed from previous months offering some relief for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

Business • 22 Aug

Bank of Japan holds rates, flags trade 'uncertainties'

The Bank of Japan kept its main interest rate unchanged today, hiking its inflation and growth forecasts while also flagging "high uncertainties" from US President Donald Trump's trade policies.

Business • 31 Jul

Japan's staple rice prices doubled in May from the same time last year

Japan's core inflation hits two year high

Japan's core inflation hit a more than two-year high in May and exceeded the central bank's 2% target for well over three years, keeping it under pressure to resume interest rate hikes despite economic headwinds from US tariffs.

Business • 20 Jun

Bank of Japan keeps interest rates steady

The Bank of Japan kept interest rates steady today and decided to decelerate the pace of its balance sheet drawdown next year, signaling its preference to move cautiously in removing remnants of its massive, decade-long stimulus.

Business • 17 Jun

The price of rice in Japan spiked 98.6% last month from a year earlier, while that of chocolate jumped 31%

Japan's core inflation hits more than two-year high

Japan's core inflation accelerated at its fastest annual pace in more than two years in April on steady rises in food costs, data showed today, raising the odds of another interest rate hike by the end of the year.

Business • 23 May

The Bank of Japan kept interest rates steady today

Bank of Japan cuts growth forecasts on US tariff hit

The Bank of Japan kept interest rates steady and sharply cut its growth forecasts today, suggesting uncertainty surrounding US tariffs and the hit to exports could keep policy in a holding pattern for some time.

Business • 01 May

The price of cabbage in Japan has soared by 130%, today's inflation figures show

Japan's core inflation slows to 3% in February

Japanese inflation eased in February, government data showed today, with prices excluding fresh food rising by 3% year-on-year in the world's fourth-largest economy.

Business • 21 Mar

The Bank of Japan has kept its key interest rate at around 0.5% today

Bank of Japan holds rates, warning of trade uncertainty

The Bank of Japan left its key interest rate unchanged today in a widely expected move given the global economic uncertainty fuelled by US trade tariffs.

Business • 19 Mar

Japanese gross domestic product expanded 2.8% annualised in the fourth quarter - beating a median market estimate of a 1% gain in a Reuters poll

Japan's GDP beats forecasts as consumption perks up

Japan's economy grew faster than expected in the fourth quarter, on improved business spending and a surprise increase in consumption and shoring up the central bank's case for more interest rate hikes.

Business • 17 Feb

The Bank of Japan has raised its short-term policy rate from 0.25% to 0.5% - a level Japan has not seen in 17 years

Bank of Japan ups interest rates to highest in 17 years

The Bank of Japan raised interest rates today to their highest since the 2008 global financial crisis and revised up its inflation forecasts, underscoring its confidence that rising wages will keep inflation stable around its 2% target.

Business • 24 Jan

As widely expected, the nine-member Bank of Japan board voted 8-1 to keep its short-term policy rate unchanged at 0.25%

Bank of Japan keeps interest rates steady

The Bank of Japan kept interest rates unchanged today but one dissenting board member's proposal to push up borrowing costs showed the bank remains on track to tighten policy early next year.

Business • 19 Dec 24

Japan's GDP rose an annualised 1.2% in the three months to September, revised data showed today, higher than economists' median forecast and the initial estimate of 0.9% growth

Japan revises third quarter GDP figures higher

Japan's economy expanded in the third quarter at a faster pace than initially reported thanks to upward revisions in capital investment and exports, keeping alive market expectations for a near-term interest rate hike by the central bank.

Business • 09 Dec 24

The Tokyo core consumer price index, which excludes volatile fresh food costs, rose 2.2% in November from a year earlier, exceeding a median market forecast for a 2.1% gain

Core inflation in Japan's capital Tokyo perks up

Core consumer inflation in Japan's capital accelerated in November and stayed above the central bank's 2% target, data showed today, as price pressures broadened, keeping alive market expectations for a near-term interest rate hike.

Business • 29 Nov 24

The Bank of Japan kept short-term interest rates at 0.25% at its two-day meeting - as expected

Bank of Japan keeps rates steady, flags global risks

The Bank of Japan has maintained ultra-low interest rates today and signalled the need to scrutinise global economic developments, highlighting its focus on risks to a fragile domestic recovery in deciding when to next tighten policy.

Business • 31 Oct 24

The Bank of Japan kept short-term interest rates steady at 0.25% at a two-day meeting that ended today.

Bank of Japan keeps interest rate steady as expected

The Bank of Japan kept interest rates steady today and revised up its assessment on consumption, signalling its confidence a solid economic recovery would allow the central bank to raise interest rates again in coming months.

Business • 20 Sep 24

The US Federal Reserve is likely to start cutting US interest rates next week

Global rate cutting cycle picking up pace

Interest rate cuts from major central banks are well underway, with the European Central Bank today delivering its second quarter-point cutof the year.

Business • 12 Sep 24

Jerome Powell, chairman of the US Federal Reserve (left) and Tiff Macklem, governor of the Bank of Canada, at the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium in Wyoming (Getty)

Central banks' pivots signal more turbulence ahead

Growing signs of lacklustre growth and risks emerging to the job market overshadowed a gathering of global policymakers at the US Federal Reserve's annual Jackson Hole conference, highlighting the changing trajectory of monetary policy as US and European central banks eye cutting interest rates.

Business • 26 Aug 24

The Bank of Japan has set an interest rate of 0.25%, a notch up from the previous rate of around zero to 0.1%

Bank of Japan ups interest rate for 2nd time in 17 years

The Bank of Japan further unwound its massive monetary easing programme today by hiking interest rates for only the second time in 17 years and indicating plans for more if the economy performs as officials expect.

Business • 31 Jul 24

Japan's Consumer Price Index - which excludes volatile fresh food prices - rose 2.5% year-on-year, compared with 2.2% in April

Japanese inflation ticks up in May to 2.5%

The pace of Japanese inflation accelerated in May partly due to higher energy bills, government data showed today, as analysts speculate on the timing of the Bank of Japan's next rate hike.

Business • 21 Jun 24

Bank of Japan's inflation measures all fall below 2%

The Bank of Japan's key measurements of underlying inflation in April all fell below its 2% target for the first time since August 2022, data showed today, heightening uncertainty on the timing of its next interest rate hike.

Business • 28 May 24

Bank of Japan to proceed cautiously on inflation target

The Bank of Japan will proceed cautiously with inflation-targeting frameworks, Governor Kazuo Ueda said today, noting that some challenges are "uniquely difficult" for Japan after years of ultra-easy monetary policy.

Business • 27 May 24

Japan's inflation rate, excluding volatile fresh food prices, came in at 2.2%, compared with the 2.6% rate logged in March

Japan inflation slows in April, sparks questions on rates

The pace of Japanese inflation slowed in April as gas bills fell, government data showed today, raising questions about when the Bank of Japan will hike interest rates again.

Business • 24 May 24

Japan's economy shrank by an annualised 2% in January-March from the previous quarter, new figures show today

Japan's economy skids, clouding Bank of Japan's rate plan

Japan's economy fell faster than expected in the first quarter as the weak yen continued to batter consumers, throwing a fresh challenge to the central bank's push to get interest rates further away from near zero.

Business • 16 May 24

Traders had been on edge for weeks for any signs of action from Tokyo to prop up a currency that has fallen 11% against the dollar so far this year

Japan's yen jumps against the dollar

The yen jumped suddenly against the dollar today, with traders citing yen-buying intervention by Japanese authorities to try to stem a relentless fall in the currency to levels last seen over three decades ago.

Business • 29 Apr 24