BOJ inflation gauge slows to zero as oil weighs

The Bank of Japan's main gauge of inflation slowed to zero, as cheaper oil prices counter Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda's effort to reflate the economy.

Consumer prices excluding fresh food and effects of last year's consumption tax increase were unchanged in April from a year earlier. Including the levy, core prices rose 0.3 percent, the statistics bureau said Friday. That was more than a 0.2 percent gain forecast by economists.

Kuroda is girding for a longer battle to reflate the economy after last month pushing back the timing for achieving a 2 percent target. While he has warned of a temporary drop in prices, he's betting that stronger growth driven by cheaper oil that's weighing on prices now will eventually spur inflation in the world's third-biggest economy.