More Japanese households see prices rising, BOJ survey shows

TOKYO, July 16 : Over 90 per cent of Japanese households expect prices to rise a year from now, a central bank survey showed on Thursday, higher than three months ago in a sign of broadening inflationary pressure that could heighten the case for further interest rate hikes.The survey will be among factors the Bank of Japan will scrutinise when it meets for a two-day policy meeting ending on July 31.The ratio of households expecting prices to rise a year from now hit 90.4 per cent in June, the survey showed, up from 83.7 per cent in the previous survey.The survey also showed 86.1 per cent of respondents expect prices to rise five years from now, up from 82.6 per cent in the previous survey in March.As the cost of living rose, 49.9 per cent of households said they expect economic conditions