TOKYO, July 25: Worries about the health of Japan’s economy mounted on Friday as inflation hit a new decade high on soaring commodity costs, casting a pall over the outlook for consumer spending.

Japan’s core inflation hit 1.9 per cent in June, the fastest pace since January 1998 when consumer prices rose 2.0 per cent, the government said. It was the ninth straight monthly increase in prices. “Consumers feel quite a heavy burden,” said Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Hiroko Ota.—AFP