People looks at the fruits at a shop at the Tsukiji Outer Market in Tokyo on August 22, 2025. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP) (Photo by PHILIP FONG/AFP via Getty Images)Japan's consumer inflation rate dropped to 2.9% in November, staying above the 2% target set by the country's central bank for a 44th straight month, and further strengthening already strong prospects of a rate hike. Core inflation, which strips out prices of fresh food, remained unchanged from 3% in October, and came in line with Reuters-polle ...