Japan's core consumer price index increased 1.4 percent in April from a year earlier, down from 1.8 percent in March and below the 1.7 percent median forecast. The reading marked the slowest annual gain since March 2022, aided by a 10.6 percent drop in education fees. A separate index excluding fresh food and fuel rose 1.9 percent, easing from 2.4 percent the prior month.