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Japan's core consumer prices marked their 17th straight month of annual declines in July in a sign that deflation remains deeply entrenched, boding ill for a fragile economy faced with a strong yen. Japanese policymakers are struggling to put a cap on the surging yen, which hit a 15-year high against the dollar this week and threatens to derail an export-led recovery.

Analysts say the stronger yen and slowing economy may delay Japan's exit from deflation, putting pressure on the Bank of Japan to ease monetary policy further.