TOKYO, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Japan's core consumer price index fell 1.0 percent in June from the same time a year earlier, the Ministry of Internal Affairs said in a report on Friday.

The key consumer price index (CPI), excluding volatile fresh food prices, fell for the 16 successive month to a preliminary 99. 3 against the base of 100 for 2005, the ministry said.

The reading was below economists' expectations for a 1.1 percent decline.

Core consumer prices in the Tokyo metropolitan area fell 1.3 percent in July from a year earlier, following a 1.3 percent percent drop in June, the min

This compares with a market forecast for a 1.2 percent decline.