Sources: Bank of Japan to decide at next week's meeting whether inflation has reached the 2% target

October 21 - According to Kyodo News, informed sources revealed on Wednesday that the Bank of Japan will assess at next week's policy meeting whether underlying inflation has reached its 2% target. If such a determination is made, it would mark a symbolic turning point for the Bank of Japan, signaling a departure from the monetary policy stance it has long maintained to combat deflation. The Bank of Japan first set its 2% inflation target in January 2013. Despite implementing an aggressive monetary easing program, the bank has repeatedly postponed its expected timeline for achieving the target. If the target is ultimately reached, nearly 14 years will have passed since it was first proposed.