Japanese inflation went back to zero for the first time in nearly two years in February as it slowed for a seventh straight month, according to official data Friday.
Core consumer inflation, excluding volatile fresh food prices, rose 2.0 percent year-on-year in February due largely to a sales tax hike in April 2014.
Adjusted for the tax increase, the nationwide core consumer-price index was flat from a year earlier, falling to zero growth for the first time since May 2013.