Gasoline price pass-through into CPI inflation: Evidence from Structure VAR

We apply a Bayesian structural vector autoregression (VAR) model to estimate the impact of oil and exchange rate shocks on Japan’s gasoline prices and, furthermore, Japan’s gasoline price pass-through into CPI inflation. In addition to the traditional zero and sign restrictions, we adopt a Bayesian framework, which provides a broader set of credible regions. After evaluating the influence of oil supply shocks, economic activity shocks, oil-specific demand shocks, and exchange rate shocks, we found evidence that an increase in gasoline prices is associated with a positive economic activity shock and oil-specific demand shock. On the other hand, the impact of any of the above shocks was not observed on the Japanese consumer price index from the estimated results.