At its meeting that concluded this morning, Friday, October 30, the Bank of Japan decided to maintain its monetary policy and interest rates unchanged. Members voted 8-1 to keep the interest rate at 1.25%, as expected, following a 25 basis point increase in September. Member Hajime Takata favored raising the rate to 1.50%, citing the risk of rising inflation.

The Bank of Japan’s policy decision was not to change. The Bank of Japan’s quarterly economic outlook report showed the bank raising its growth and inflation forecasts. The bank increased its growth forecast for this year to 0.7%, up from 0.6% in July, and lowered it to 0.7% for next year, down from 0.8% in July. It also raised its forecast for 2028 to 0.8%.

Conversely, the bank expects inflation to reach 2.5% this year, unchanged from July, and increased it to 2.6% next year, up from 2.4% in July. Core inflation, which excludes food prices, is expected to continue rising moderately, reaching 2.4% this year, compared to 2.5% in July, and 2.7% next year, compared to 2.6% in April.