Odaily Planet Daily reported on Friday that Japan's core consumer price index rose 2.7% in the year to August, still above the Bank of Japan's 2% target, but the smallest increase in nine months, suggesting that Japanese households are getting some relief from rising living costs. The data will be among the factors the Bank of Japan will scrutinize at its two-day meeting that ends on Friday. The Bank of Japan's board is widely expected to hold interest rates steady at 0.5% at the meeting. (Jinshi)