A meeting of the government¡¯s top economic council on Monday focused on whether recent rises in inflation and wage growth suggest Japan was approaching a sustained exit from deflation.

With inflation accelerating globally and wage growth picking up in Japan, discussions also touched on the desirable timing to end the Bank of Japan¡¯s ultraloose monetary policy, a government official told reporters.

¡°While there have been some positive signs in recent data, we must ensure they are stable and sustainable so that Japan won¡¯t revert to deflation,¡± the Cabinet Office said, according to handout material released after the meeting.