Japan July inflation seen ticking up but still far from BOJ target: Reuters poll

By Leika Kihara

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's core consumer inflation rate likely picked up slightly in July but due mostly to rising energy costs rather than robust demand, a Reuters poll showed, further evidence the central bank is making little headway in reaching its price target.

Subdued wage and price growth have forced the Bank of Japan to extend its massive stimulus programme despite the rising risks of the policy, such as the hit to bank profits from near-zero rates.

The BOJ last month conceded that inflation will miss its elusive 2 percent target until early 2021 and took steps to make its policy framework more sustainable.

The nationwide core consumer price index (CPI), which excludes fresh food prices but includes fuel costs, likely rose 0.9 percent in July from a year earlier, a Reuters poll showed, edging up from a 0.8 percent gain in June.

"We expect inflation to accelerate for the second straight month as energy prices are rising again and import price falls are moderating due to the yen's recent weakness," said Takeshi Minami, chief economist at Norinchukin Research Institute.

The government will release the CPI data on Aug. 24 at 8:30 a.m. (2330 GMT, Aug. 23).

Japan's economy rebounded in the second quarter from a contraction in the first three months of this year thanks to robust household and business spending.

Real wages rose at their fastest pace in more than 21 years in June, offering policymakers some hope that consumption will gain momentum and encourage firms to hike prices.

Some companies are indeed raising prices as they see their profits squeezed by labour shortages, fueled by solid economic growth and a shrinking working-age population.

Discount barber shop QB Net Co said it will raise the price of a hair cut by 10 percent from February next year due to rising labour costs.

Hideo Hayakawa, a former BOJ executive who is now senior economist at Fujitsu Research Institute, said labour shortages will heighten pressure on companies to raise prices ahead.

"It's true consumer inflation has been pretty weak during the spring. As a trend, however, inflation will gradually pick up from here as labour shortages won't go away."

(Reporting by Leika Kihara; Editing by Kim Coghill)