Japan's producer price index (PPI) rose 7.2% year over year in July, according to preliminary data released by the Bank of Japan on Thursday.

The reading was softer than the consensus forecast of a 7.4% increase tracked by Investing.com, and against the revised 7.3% reading in June.

On a month-over-month basis, factory-gate prices increased 0.1% from the prior month, also decelerating from the 0.5% expansion previously.