Consumer prices in Japan fell 0.3 percent on year in April, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said on Friday.
That beat forecasts for -0.4 percent, although it weakened from -0.1 percent in March.
Core CPI, which excludes volatile food prices, also dipped 0.3 percent. That was unchanged from the previous reading and it beat forecasts for -0.4 percent.
Among the individual components, prices for clothing were up 2.3 percent on year, followed by recreation (2.1 percent), education (1.4 percent), food (1.3 percent), medical care (0.6 percent) and furniture (0.1 percent).
Housing prices were flat, while fuel costs tumbled 9.1 percent and communications costs fell 2.5 percent.
On a monthly basis, overall inflation added 0.2 percent and core inflation gained 0.3 percent.
Individually, prices for clothing jumped 2.4 percent on month, followed by furniture (1.3 percent), education (0.8 percent) and medical care and communications (0.4 percent each).
Housing prices were flat, while fuel was down 0.8 percent and food prices fell 0.3 percent.
Consumer prices in the Tokyo region, considered a leading indicator for the nationwide trend, were at -0.5 percent in May - in line with expectations and down from -0.4 percent in April.
Core CPI in Tokyo also was at -0.5 percent versus forecasts for -0.4 percent and down from -0.3 percent a month earlier.
Individually, prices for recreation climbed 2.4 percent on year, followed by clothing (1.0 percent), education and furniture (both 0.8 percent), food (0.6 percent) and medical care (0.5 percent).
Prices for fuel tumbled 12.3 percent, while communications fell 1.6 percent and housing eased 0.3 percent.
Ona monthly basis, overall and core CPI both were flat.
Individually, recreation costs were up 0.3 percent on month, while food added 0.1 percent and medical care and education both were flat.
Furniture prices were down 1.0 percent, while housing, fuel and communication eased 0.1 percent and clothing dipped 0.2 percent.
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