Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his real economic objectives, including full employment, have been achieved even though 2 percent inflation has not, pointing to a further softening of the government's commitment to a price goal seen as one of the cornerstones of Abenomics.
"It's true that the 2 percent price target hasn't been reached, but while we have a kind of 2 percent price stability target, our real objectives, including those for monetary policy, such as spurring job growth to reach full employment, have been achieved," Abe told the Diet on Monday.
He was responding to a question about the economy and policy following data earlier in the day that showed first-quarter growth was faster than first estimated.