Consumer prices in Tokyo's 23 wards rose in October from a year earlier for the first time in more than eight years, pushed up by increases in rents, clothing prices and medical expenses, the government said Friday.
The core consumer price index, which excludes perishable food prices, rose 0.1 percent from a year ago to 100.3 against the base of 100 for 2005, posting the first rise since August 1998, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry said in a preliminary report.
Consumer prices in Tokyo are seen as the leading indicator of prices nationwide. The result matched the average market forecast.