(Recasts with detail, background) * Sept core CPI rises 2.9% yr/yr, matches forecast * Index excluding fresh food, fuel up 3.0% yr/yr in September * Data among factors BOJ will scrutinise at next week's meeting By Leika Kihara TOKYO, Oct 24 (Reuters) – Japan's core consumer prices rose 2.9% year-on-year in September, data showed on Friday, staying above the central bank's 2% target and keeping alive market expectations of a near-term interest rate hike. The data will be among factors the Bank of Japan (BOJ) will scrutinise at its two-day meeting next week, when the board will debate whether to keep interest rates steady at 0.5% and issue fresh quarterly growth and price forecasts. The increase in the core consumer price index (CPI), which excludes volatile fresh food but includes fuel cost

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