The Bank of Japan kept the overnight call-rate target at around 0.75% in a 6-3 vote and lifted its FY2026 core CPI view to 2.5%-3.0%. The April outlook said an oil shock tied to the Middle East would slow growth in 2026 even as inflation risks skew upward.
UK CPI rose to 3.3% in March from 3.0% in February, in line with Reuters-polled expectations, while ONS data showed motor fuels made the largest upward contribution.
U.S. producer prices rose 0.5% in March, well below the 1.1% consensus cited by CNBC, while core PPI increased just 0.1%. The downside surprise came even as energy prices jumped, complicating the inflation picture but reinforcing the case for a cautious Fed.