Consumer prices continue to decline with the persisting effects of the fall in crude oil prices in the latter half of last year, while the prices of imported products and their substitutes keep on falling. Corporate service prices continue to decline.
As for the conditions surrounding price developments, the depreciation of the yen from around the end of last year and the rise in international commodity prices including crude oil are regarded as factors to 1  2  This report is based on data and information available at the time of the Bank of Japan Monetary Policy Meeting held on April 10 and 11, 2002.