In a meeting today, BoJ Governor Kazuo Ueda and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida discussed a range of financial topics. However, in a post-meeting address to the media, Ueda clarified that the recent volatility of exchange rates was not a focal point of their conversation. He stated, “There wasn’t anything in particular discussed today,” in response to inquiries regarding the topic.

The backdrop to this meeting was Dollar’s significant surge over 145 Yen mark. To provide some historical context, when the currency reached this level in September 2022, it prompted Japan’s inaugural Yen-buying intervention operation in nearly a quarter of a century, since 1998.

During their dialogue, Ueda shed light on BoJ’s recent decision to ease its hold on long-term interest rates, lifting the cap on 10-year JGB yield from 0.50% to 1.00%. Prime Minister Kishida expressed understanding and agreement with the central bank’s decision, Ueda remarked.

Highlighting the periodic nature of such high-level meetings, Ueda noted that the recent gathering was in line with the tradition maintained by his predecessor, Haruhiko Kuroda. Such consultations, held once every few months, aim to facilitate discussions on prevailing economic and financial landscapes.

Japan’s core CPI, which excludes fresh food, eased slightly from 3.3% yoy in June to 3.1% yoy in July, aligning with market expectations. Notably, this metric continued its streak above BoJ’s 2% inflation target for a commendable 16 consecutive months.

Diving deeper, core-core CPI, which subtracts both fresh food and energy, inched higher to 4.3% yoy, equalling the peak seen in May. This current rate hasn’t been witnessed since 1981, underscoring the latent inflationary pressures within the Japanese economy.

Processed food costs are a particular hotspot, skyrocketing by 9.2% yoy – a surge not seen in nearly half a century. Adding to this, durable goods saw a robust rise of 6.0% yoy. Furthermore, possibly driven by travel and vacationing demand, accommodation fees witnessed a significant 15.1% yoy hike during the prime summer holiday period.

Conversely, energy prices painted a contrasting picture, plummeting by -8.7% yoy. This decline can largely be attributed to government interventions, with subsidies introduced to mitigate household utility expenses. These subsidies, in turn, have played a pivotal role, dragging the core CPI lower by approximately one percentage point.

Service prices also shifted gears, moving up to 2% yoy from 1.6% yoy – the most substantial leap since 1993 if we set aside the aftermath of the 1997 sales tax hike.

Despite these intricate dynamics, headline CPI remained steadfast at 3.3% yoy.