tokyo  japans overall consumer inflation rose 3 from a year earlier in august exceeding the bank of japans 2 target for fifth straight months government data showed tuesday the figure compares with a 26 increase in july from a year ago consumer prices excluding fresh food and energy prices rose 16 from a year earlier in august the boj is widely expected to maintain ultralow interest rates at a policysetting meeting later this week as boj officials have said current inflation is triggered mainly by higher energy prices and is unlikely to be sustainable