2014.04.2420:52:00UTC+00Japan CPI +1.6% On Year In March

Nationwide consumer prices in Japan were up 1.6 percent on year in March, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said on Friday - in line with expectations and up from 1.5 percent in February.

Core CPI, which strips out the volatile costs of food, added an annual 1.3 percent - unchanged from the previous month but shy of forecasts for 1.4 percent.

Overall inflation for the Tokyo region, considered a leading indicator for the nationwide trend, spiked 2.9 percent on year in April - below expectations for 3.0 percent but up sharply from 1.3 percent in March.

Core CPI for Tokyo jumped 2.7 percent on year in April - also below expectations for 2.8 percent but up from 1.0 percent a month earlier.