Japan's key gauge of consumer prices dropped a record 0.8 percent in 2001, underlining fresh evidence of continuing deflationary pressure on the economy, the government said Friday.
It is also the first time that the core nationwide consumer price index has declined for two successive years, according to the Public Management, Home Affairs and Posts and Telecommunications Ministry.
The index, which excludes the volatile prices of perishables, fell to 99.2 against the base of 100 in 2000. The 0.8 percent drop was the largest decline since the government began collecting data under the current system, starting in 1971. The previous record decline was 0.4 percent in 2000.