Japan's services producer price index, which measures prices companies charge one another for services, rose 3.6% in July from a year earlier after a revised 3.4% increase in June, Bank of Japan data showed. The acceleration adds to evidence that inflationary pressure is broadening and supports expectations of a near-term interest-rate increase. Japan's core consumer inflation also accelerated in July as companies passed on higher import costs linked to the weak yen and the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. Sources told Reuters that the Bank of Japan may raise rates as soon as September and could consider larger increases afterward, compared with its current pace of roughly two hikes a year.