Japan's February consumer prices flat on falling energy prices

The Japanese government said Friday that the country's consumer prices were flat in February from a year earlier for the second consecutive month on falling energy prices.

The core consumer price index, which excludes volatile fresh food prices, stood at 102.5 against the 2010 base of 100, the Internal Ministry said.

Energy prices declined 10.9 percent year on year last month due to retreating crude oil prices. Electricity prices were down 7.6 percent and gasoline prices tumbled 15.8 percent.

Food prices, except for fresh foods, were up 2.1 percent, while prices of television sets surged 15.7 percent.

The Bank of Japan delayed the time to achieve its 2-percent inflation target for times due to the falling oil prices. Endit