Japan's nationwide core consumer prices rose 3 percent in September from a year ago, data on Friday showed. The rise in the core consumer price index (CPI), which excludes volatile food prices, was in line with analyst expectations in a Reuters poll. In August, core consumer prices rose 3.1 percent. In April, the government raised the sales tax to 8 percent from 5 percent to rein in the country's debt-to-GDP ratio. It was the first tax increase in 17 years. A second tax hike to 10 percent is planned for next year, however it has not been set in stone. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to make a decision in ... (full story)