Japan's CPI marks biggest increase in nearly a decade in December on higher energy prices

Japan's core consumer prices rose their most in nearly a decade in December and the economy minister warned the trend _ fueled by higher energy prices _ could hurt consumption.

The core consumer price index rose 0.8 percent in December from a year earlier, according to data released Friday by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. That's its fastest rise since a 1.8 percent increase in March 1998.

"Rising oil and commodity prices are having an effect," Hiroko Ota, the economy minister, told reporters. "With wages not increasing, increases in prices of products related to people's everyday needs are a negative factor for consumer …