The annual inflation rate in the Ku-area of Tokyo came in at 3.5 % in April, rising from the 2.9% registered in March, the Statistics Bureau of Japan said in its report published on Friday.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) excluding fresh food and energy rose to 2%, higher than last month's 1.1%, while the figure excluding only fresh food came in at 3.4%, slightly higher than expected and higher than the 2.4% registered in the previous month.