Economic data for 2013 released Friday showed signs that Japan is moving a step closer to beating prolonged deflation, with consumer prices rising for the first time in five years while the employment situation also improved on the back of an economic recovery.
Core consumer prices excluding fresh foods rose 0.4 percent in 2013 from a year earlier for the first rise in five years, due mainly to a gain in energy prices stemming from the yen's depreciation.
The core consumer price index, excluding fresh foods, stood at 100.1 against the 2010 base of 100, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry said. In December alone, the core CPI rose 1.3 percent from a year earlier to 100.6 for the seventh straight month of increase.