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South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
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Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Fed Governor Lisa Cook Warns Inflation Risks Remain as Rates Stay Steady 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
U.S. Stock Futures Edge Higher as Tech Rout Deepens on AI Concerns and Earnings 
In December 2024, the core Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Tokyo Prefecture increased by 2.4% compared to a year earlier, rising from 2.2% in November. This change is important because it shows that prices continue to rise, especially due to a significant 13.5% increase in energy costs, up from a 7.4% rise in November.
Here are some key points to consider:
November 2024 Core CPI: 2.2%, higher than 1.8% in October.
December 2024 Core CPI: 2.4%, showing a continuing increase in inflation.
Energy Costs: These rose by 13.5%, playing a big role in driving up overall prices.
Processed Food Prices: These went up by 4.0%, staying about the same as the previous month.
Core-Core CPI (which excludes fresh food and energy): This went up by 1.8%, slightly lower than the 1.9% increase in November, indicating that the increase in other prices is slowing down a bit.
This information is important because the inflation trends in Tokyo can often predict what will happen with prices across Japan, as national figures come out about three weeks later. The Bank of Japan is paying close attention to these numbers because they could affect its decisions about interest rates in the future.
