Japan's core consumer inflation likely accelerated in December, boosted by higher energy costs, while the Bank of Japan is seen raising rates next week, a Reuters poll showed on Friday. The core consumer price index (CPI), which includes oil but excludes fresh food prices, rose to 3.0% in December from a year ago, according to a Reuters poll of 16 economists. This would be the highest since August 2023, when the index stood at 3.1%. Economists said the government scaling down subsidies for energy costs likely pushed up core inflation.