Japan inflation slows again in December as spending drops

Japan's inflation rate slipped again in December, data showed Friday, as weak consumer spending and lower energy prices weighed, dealing more challenges to Tokyo's war on deflation. Japan's core consumer inflation slowed for a fifth straight month in December, as the internal affairs ministry reported household spending fell a greater-than-expected 3.4 percent from a year ago. Prices had been on the rise, largely due to Japan's heavy post-Fukushima energy bills, but oil rates