Consumer prices fell for a ninth month in November, adding to signs that deflation will undermine growth in the world's second-largest economy.
Prices excluding fresh food slid 1.7 percent from a year earlier after dropping 2.2 percent in October the statistics bureau said Friday in Tokyo, matching the median estimate of 25 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News.
Bank of Japan policymakers last week said in a statement that they are intolerant of price declines, spurring expectations among investors and analysts they will hold interest rates near zero until inflation returns. Gov. Masaaki Shirakawa said this week the announcement may influence investors' expectations and lower borrowing costs further, supporting growth.