Japan’s inflation further accelerated to the fastest pace since 1981, an outcome that may fuel speculation the Bank of Japan will surprise markets again with further policy changes in January. Consumer prices excluding fresh food climbed 3.7% in November from a year ago, the internal affairs ministry reported Friday. The result matched an estimate by economists. The margin of acceleration was smaller than the 0.6 percentage point jump in the previous month. Gains in processed food prices were the biggest driver behind the acceleration, and inflation would have been close to hitting 4% were it not for the government’s ... (full story)