TOKYO—Nearly a decade after its central bank targeted 2% inflation, Japan on Friday finally reached its goal. But instead of celebration, the occasion prompted concern about the effects of high energy and raw-material costs on a struggling economy.
Overall consumer prices in April were up 2.5% from a year earlier, government data showed. It was the first time since September 2008 that inflation topped 2%, excluding the impact of sales-tax increases. It was also the fastest rise since 1991.
