Japan PPI inflation up more than expected in Feb, furthers BOJ pivot bets

Investing.com-- Japanese producer inflation grew more than expected in February, further factoring into expectations that the Bank of Japan was close to ending its ultra-dovish policy and hiking interest rates.

Producer price index inflation rose 0.2% month-on-month, official data showed on Tuesday. The reading was higher than expectations of 0.1%, and also picked up from a flat print in the prior month.

Year-on-year PPI inflation rose 0.6% in February, in line with expectations, but higher than the 0.2% seen in January.

The reading comes just a week after a strong consumer price index inflation reading from Tokyo, which usually heralds a similar trend in nationwide inflation.

Tuesday's reading also saw PPI inflation rebound from an over two-year low, indicating that factory gate inflation may now be picking up after an extended downturn over the past year.

Sticky inflation gives the BOJ more impetus to tighten policy, especially in the face of higher wages growth in 2024. 

A slew of media reports said the BOJ could end its yield curve control and negative interest rate policies by as soon as mid-March or late-April, amid increasing signs of sticky inflation and strong wage growth in Japan, which have been the BOJ’s two biggest considerations for tightening policy. 

The Japanese yen rose 0.2% to an over one-month high after Tuesday’s PPI reading, while the Nikkei 225 stock index opened 1.2% lower.