Japan’s Price Gauge Rises Most Since 1998: Economy

A gauge of Japan’s prices rose the most in 15 years as higher energy costs fueled broader inflation pressures, in a sign Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is making progress in stamping out deflation.

Prices excluding energy and fresh food rose 0.3 percent in October on year, boosted by a weaker yen and electricity costs that have risen 22 percent since March 2011, when an earthquake led to the shutdown of Japan’s nuclear industry. The gain exceeded a 0.2 percent forecast in a Bloomberg News survey.