Bank of Japan policymaker Ayano Sato said she supports raising interest rates in stages, with the timing guided by economic data rather than a fixed schedule. She also warned that rising oilOilOil refers to a globally traded energy commodity whose price is shaped by supply, demand, inventories, geopolitics, and economic activity. The term belongs in Level 7 because it...Read More prices could increase inflationInflationA broad rise in prices that reduces money’s purchasing power. Central banks watch inflation because it affects interest-rate decisions.Read More risks.

Bank of Japan board member Ayano Sato supports raising interest rates in stages, Reuters reported on 7 October in Japan, citing a Kyodo interview. She said timing should reflect consumption and income, without a predetermined pace. Sato opposed September’s increase because spending lacked momentum and underlying inflation was not accelerating. Her latest comments concern future policy preferences; they do not announce a new rate decision.