TOKYO -- Japan's core consumer price index rose 2.8% in September from a year earlier, down from the 3.1% increase in August due to lower electricity and gas bills, official data released Friday shows.

The index, which excludes fresh food, indicates September's inflation rate was the slowest since August 2022. But price increases remained above the Bank of Japan's 2% target, exceeding the threshold for the 18th consecutive month.