On June 30, Mizuho Securities economist Ryo Seki stated that the upcoming Bank of Japan short-term economic outlook survey may indicate a further increase in corporate inflation expectations. He noted that, given that oil prices have remained high since the last survey in March, companies might raise their price expectations in the June report. He added that if this occurs, it could heighten the Bank of Japan's concerns that the core inflation rate may exceed its 2% target. In the March survey, companies indicated that they expected overall prices to rise by 2.6% over the next year, up from a previously announced forecast of a 2.4% increase.