tokyo jan 14 reuters  japans core consumer inflation likely hovered at a near twoyear high in december as surging fuel and raw material costs continued to push up living costs for households a reuters poll showed on friday but japans inflation remains far modest than that of other major economies including the united states where strong demand and a tight job market are pushing up prices enough for the central bank to eye several interest rate hikes this year the nationwide core consumer price index cpi likely rose 06 in december from a year earlier according to the median forecast in the poll of 18 economists that would mark the fastest pace of increases since february 2020 and higher than a 05 increase in november read more prices in japan have been weak but were seeing the ripple effect of higher import costs due to a weak yen and soaring raw material costs said takeshi minami chief economist at norinchukin research institute the poll also showed japans exports likely gained 160 yearonyear in december to mark the 10th straight month of expansion following a 205 rise in the previous month imports are expected to have surged 428 in value in december due to rising energy and raw material costs according to the poll core machinery orders likely grew 14 in november from the prior month posting a second month of increase in a positive sign for capital expenditure the poll showed the government will release cpi data at 830 am on jan 21 2330gmt jan 20 trade data at 850 am on jan 20 2350gmt jan 19 and machinery orders data at 850 am on jan 17 2350gmt jan 16