The year-on-year rate of change in the CPI for all items less fresh food has been slightly negative due to the effects of the decline in energy prices (Chart 6). Meanwhile, that for all items less fresh food and energy has remained positive for exactly three years since October 2013.
This is the first time since the late 1990s, when Japan's economy fell into deflation, that the inflation rate has been positive for such a long period. However, it has slowed recently.