An index measuring producer prices was down 1.3 percent on month in January, the Bank of Japan said on Thursday, showing a score of 103.3.
That missed forecasts for a fall of 0.6 percent following the revised 0.5 percent decline in December (originally -0.6 percent).
On a yearly basis, prices added 0.3 percent - also below expectations for an increase of 1.1 percent following the revised 1.8 percent gain in the previous month) originally 1.9 percent).
Export prices were down 1.0 percent on month and 3.0 percent on year, the data showed, while import prices fell 3.4 percent in month and 9.1 percent on year.
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