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Japan wholesale inflation accelerates to 3-year high as Iran oil shock rattles BOJ rate hike bets

International
Published on 15 May 2026
Japan wholesale inflation accelerates to 3-year high as Iran oil shock rattles BOJ rate hike bets

Wholesale prices jump far beyond forecasts in April

Japan’s wholesale inflation hit a nearly three-year high in April, fueled by surging energy and commodity costs tied to the Iran conflict. The corporate goods price index rose 4.9% year-on-year, beating expectations and signaling broader inflation pressure beyond imported fuel. Market pricing has intensified for a Bank of Japan move, with about a 70% chance of a rate hike at the June 15–16 meeting. Bond yields jumped to a 29-year high as the BOJ faces a tighter balancing act.

  • Japan’s corporate goods price index rose 4.9% year-on-year in April
  • That outpaced forecasts of 3% and was the strongest since May 2023
  • Japan’s 10-year government bond yield climbed to 2.665%, a 29-year high
  • Markets price roughly a 70% chance of a BOJ rate hike in June
  • Import pressure worsened as the yen-based import price index rose 17.5% year-on-year
Read the full story at The Economic Times

This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on The Economic TimesThe Economic Times

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