The core inflation rate in Japan came in at -0.3 percent on year, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said on Friday - exactly as expected and slowing from -0.2 percent in June.
Overall inflation was -0.4 percent on year, missing forecasts for -0.3 percent after showing -0.2 percent in the previous month.
Core CPI for the Tokyo region - considered a leading indicator for the nationwide trend - was -0.5 percent in August. That beat forecasts for -0.6 percent, which would have been unchanged from the July reading.
Overall Tokyo inflation was down 0.7 percent on year, matching forecasts and up from -0.8 percent in the previous month.
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