TOKYO, April 19 (Reuters) - Japan's core consumer prices rose 2.6% in March from a year earlier, government data showed on Friday.
The core consumer price index, which includes oil products but excludes fresh food prices, compared with economists' median estimate for a 2.6% annual gain.
Stripping away the effect of fresh food and energy, consumer prices rose 2.9% in March from a year ago.
(Reporting by Tokyo Newsroom)