Japan's core consumer prices up 2.6 pct in June

TOKYO, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Japan's core consumer prices rose 2.6 percent in June from a year earlier, as soaring prices for energy and food continue to weigh on households, government data showed Friday.

The pace of increase in the nationwide core consumer price index (CPI), excluding volatile fresh food, accelerated from 2.2 percent in May, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.