AI Data Insight
Japan's Corporate Goods Price Index (PPI) for July rose to 135.8, continuing its climb from 135.4 in the previous month and hitting a record high, with a year-on-year growth rate of 7.2%, slightly below the market expectation of 7.4%. Although the overall increase slowed slightly, import prices surged over 29% year-on-year, driven by the depreciation of the yen and soaring non-ferrous metal and energy prices. Against the backdrop of stubbornly high inflationary pressure, market expectations for another interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan in September continue to heat up.