The Bank of Japan on Wednesday slashed its inflation outlook for the fiscal year starting in April as plunging oil prices dent its efforts to slay deflation, but policymakers boosted their economic growth forecasts, saying the economy was rebounding.
The bank held off fresh easing measures after a two-day policy meeting but said inflation for the year starting in March would come in 1.0 percent, well down from an earlier 1.7 percent forecast, while growth would come in 2.1 percent, up from 1.5 percent.