BOJ's Kataoka calls for more easing to achieve inflation target

Bank of Japan (BOJ) policymaker Kataoka, while speaking at a meeting with business leaders in Okayama, said the central bank must ease more to achieve the 2 percent inflation target. 

Key comments

• Japan is still quite distant from mulling shift from easy policy
• Premature tightening could push Japan back into deflation
• Sales tax hike in 2019 may put downward pressure on prices
• Probability of inflation hitting 2% during fiscal year 2019 is low