Ex-BOJ Chief Economist Sees Odds of Rate Hike as Soon as October

Japanese inflation is strong enough for the Bank of Japan to consider an interest rate hike as soon as this fall if tariff uncertainties fade, according to a former BOJ chief economist.

“Inflation is clearly strong,” Hideo Hayakawa said in an interview with Bloomberg Monday. “Once a decision is made on tariffs, a rate hike could take place even in October.”