"If our economic and price forecasts are achieved, we will raise our policy rate accordingly and adjust the degree of monetary support," Himino said. The BOJ raised interest rates to 0.5% from 0.25% last week on the view that wages will continue rising and keep inflation stable around its 2% target.

The central bank is likely to pause a while before bringing the rate up to 0.75%, the highest rate since 1995.