[Japan's Core Inflation Rate Remains Below Central Bank Target] Reported by Jinse Finance, on April 24, data released on Friday showed that Japan's core consumer inflation rate in March slowed for the second consecutive month, remaining below the central bank's 2% target. This was due to government fuel subsidies offsetting price pressures caused by energy shocks from the Iran war. Analysts predict that inflation will accelerate and rise above the Bank of Japan's target in the coming months as companies begin to pass on the increased fuel costs stemming from the Middle East conflict. The core Consumer Price Index (CPI), which excludes the impact of volatile fresh food costs, rose 1.8% year-on-year in March, in line with the median market forecast. This follows a 1.6% increase in February. Another index, which excludes the impact of fresh food and fuel costs (closely monitored by the Bank of Japan as a better indicator of demand-driven price changes), rose 2.4% year-on-year in March, compared to a 2.5% increase in February. (Jin10)