Japan's consumer prices rise

Tokyo, April 27 (IANS) Japan's benchmark consumer prices rose 0.2 percent in March from a year earlier for the second straight month of rise, the government said Friday.

The core consumer price index came to 100.02 against the 2010 base of 100, according to a report released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Private sector analysts had forecast a minor rise in the index, said Xinhua.