Japan's nationwide core CPI is expected to rise 1.8% in July from a year earlier, up from 1.6% in June and marking a second straight month of acceleration, as food prices climb faster and energy costs rise amid the war in the Middle East. The Reuters poll of 17 economists suggests inflation would still remain below the Bank of Japan's 2% target, but it may reinforce expectations for a September rate increase after the BOJ (Japan's central bank) pushed rates to a 31-year high in June. Ryosuke Katagi, a market economist at Mizuho Securities, said the worsening situation in Iran is gradually feeding through to consumer prices. Annual wholesale inflation remained elevated at 7.2% in July, while joint Japanese-U.S. efforts to shore up the battered yen two weeks ago have added to bets that the BOJ may need to raise rates faster and further, with another move possible as early as next month. The internal affairs ministry will release the CPI data at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, August 21, or 2330 GMT on August 20.