日本的核心通貨膨脹率上升至4月3.5％，這是自2023年初以來最高

這種增加超過了預測，並使通貨膨脹率遠高於日本銀行的2％目標，這使利率決策變得複雜。一個關鍵的驅動力是大米價格的飆升，5公斤袋的創紀錄為4,268日元（28美元）。

Japan's core consumer prices rose 3.5% in April from a year earlier, government data showed on Wednesday, the highest reading since early 2023, as domestic demand remained robust and trade tensions with the United States kept up pressure on inflation.

政府數據在周三顯示，日本的核心消費者價格比去年同期上漲了3.5％，這是2023年初的閱讀量最高，因為國內需求保持牢固，並且與美國的貿易緊張局勢保持著對通貨膨脹的壓力。

The increase in the consumer price index (CPI), excluding fresh food prices, came above a median forecast for a 3.3% gain and follows a 3.4% rise in March. It also keeps inflation well above the Bank of Japan's (BOJ) 2% target, complicating interest rate decisions for the central bank.

不包括新鮮食品價格的消費價格指數（CPI）的上漲超過了3.3％增長的中位數預測，並在3月增長了3.4％。它還使通貨膨脹率遠高於日本銀行（BOJ）2％的目標，這使中央銀行的利率決策變得複雜。

A key driver of inflation has been the surge in rice prices, which hit a record 4,268 yen ($28) for a 5 kg (11 lb) bag earlier this year.

通貨膨脹的主要驅動力是稻米價格的上漲，今年早些時候，米飯價格達到創紀錄的4,268日元（28美元）。

The government has been releasing rice from stockpiles and selling it at auctions in a desperate attempt to lower prices. But only 41% of the rice sold at government auctions has reached wholesalers, lagging the administration's goal of a 70% reach by May.

政府一直在從庫存中釋放大米，並在拍賣中出售米飯，以拼命的降低價格。但是，在政府拍賣會上出售的大米中只有41％覆蓋了批發商，到5月，政府的目標落後於70％。

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to bring rice prices below 4,000 yen.

總理西格魯·伊斯皮邦（Shigeru Ishiba）發誓要將大米價格降至4,000日元以下。

The U.S. is set to impose a 24% reciprocal tariff on July 1 on about $20 billion worth of Japanese products in response to Japan's tariffs on U.S. products, a move that will further escalate trade tensions between the two allies.

美國將於7月1日對日本對美國產品的關稅徵收價值約200億美元的日本產品徵收24％的互惠關稅，這一舉動將進一步升級兩個盟友之間的貿易緊張局勢。

The tariff list includes a variety of products such as motorcycles, machine tools and some food items, and comes after the two sides failed to reach a broader trade agreement this year.

關稅清單包括各種產品，例如摩托車，機床和一些食品，並在雙方今年未能達成更廣泛的貿易協定之後。

The new tariffs will add to the existing tariffs of 25% on steel, 10% on autos and 10% on aluminum that the U.S. has imposed on Japan since last year.

自去年以來，新的關稅將增加現有的鋼鐵關稅25％，汽車的10％，鋁的10％自去年以來對日本施加的鋁的關稅。

Some economists expect inflation to ease in coming months with the yen showing strength and energy subsidies set to expire.

一些經濟學家預計，日元將在未來幾個月內緩解通貨膨脹，而日元將顯示實力和能源補貼到期。

"We expect energy-related inflation to moderate further in April, as government subsidies for gasoline and kerosene are set to expire this month," said Harumi Taguchi, economist at the Tokyo RDE Research Center.

東京RDE研究中心的經濟學家Harumi Taguchi表示：“我們預計，隨著政府對汽油和煤油的補貼將在本月到期，與能源相關的通貨膨脹率將在4月進一步改善。”

But others, like Marcel Thieliant of Capital Economics, believe the BOJ could hike interest rates as early as October if inflation stays high and core private consumption shows strength.

但是其他人，例如資本經濟學的馬塞爾·蒂埃特（Marcel Thieliant），認為，如果通貨膨脹率保持較高和核心的私人消費，則可以在10月之前提高利率。

"With inflation remaining sticky and private consumption still showing strength, we think the BOJ could hike interest rates as early as October," Thieliant wrote in a note.

Thieliant在一份票據中寫道：“隨著通貨膨脹率仍然存在粘性和私人消費，我們認為BoJ早在10月就可以提高利率。”

The yen ticked up to 143.80 after the data, while equities rose slightly, with the Nikkei index gaining 0.2%. Bond yields dipped following the reading.

日元在數據後的滴答速度高達143.80，而股票略有上升，Nikkei指數上漲了0.2％。閱讀後，債券收益率下降。