It is a region that is not only culturally and aesthetically marvellous but which also has to its credit some astonishing feats.
The year-on-year rate of change in the consumer price index (CPI, excluding fresh food) was plus 1.3 percent for four consecutive months from December last year to March this year, and, after excluding the direct effects of the consumption tax hike, accelerated somewhat to plus 1.5 percent in April (Chart 5).