Japan's consumer prices up 3.1% in August

Japan's consumer prices increased 3. 1 percent from a year earlier in August for the 15th consecutive month of growth, partially pushed by April's sales tax hike that has boosted inflation rate, said Japan's Internal Affairs Ministry Friday.
The core consumer price index, which excludes volatile fresh food prices, stood at 103.5 against the 2010 base of 100, said the ministry.
The sales tax change in April has pushed the inflation rate up by about two percentage points, according to Japan's central bank, but it aims to achieve the 2-percent inflation goal without the effect of the tax change by next year.