Japan's core consumer prices rose in August from a year earlier, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said Friday.

According to the ministry, core consumer prices increased 0.9 percent in the recording month from a year earlier, owing in part to rising energy costs. The latest reading compares to a 0.8 percent increase logged in July.

The latest increase in core consumer prices marks the 20th straight month of increase, the statistics bureau said, although the pace of increase in the nationwide consumer price index, excluding fresh food prices because of their volatility, still remains well below the Bank of Japan's lofty 2 percent inflation target.

Core-core consumer prices, meanwhile, excluding fresh food and energy costs, increased 0.4 percent from a year earlier, the ministry also said.