Japan consumer prices fall for seventh straight month

Japan's consumer prices fell in September for the seventh straight month, data showed Friday, heaping more pressure on the central bank to push back its inflation target deadline. Core consumer prices, excluding volatile fresh food costs, declined 0.5 percent on-year -- in line with the market forecast -- putting the Bank of Japan's 2.0 percent inflation target further out of reach. The BoJ has repeated pledges to continue monetary easing as needed until inflation reaches and stabilises at the t