Kyodo News The key gauge of Tokyo consumer prices fell 0.7 percent in February from a year earlier, declining for a record 41st straight month, the government said Friday, underscoring persistent deflation and no signs of an improvement in the economy.

The consumer price index for Tokyo's 23 wards, excluding prices of perishable foods, stood at 97 against the base of 100 for 2000, the Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications Ministry said in a preliminary report.

Compared with the previous month, the index was down 0.2 percent.