Japan Inflation Ticks Up In May To 2.5%

While the United States and other major economies have battled sky-high inflation in recent years, price rises in Japan have been less extreme (Credit: AFP)

The pace of Japanese inflation accelerated in May partly due to higher energy bills, government data showed Friday, as analysts speculate on the timing of the Bank of Japan's next rate hike.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) -- which excludes volatile fresh food prices -- rose 2.5 percent year-on-year, compared with the 2.2 percent logged in April by the internal affairs ministry.