Why has the yen fallen to a decade’s low and what does it mean for Japan’s economy?

The accelerating slide in the value of Japan's currency could ultimately be bad news for people in Japan who are heavily reliant on imports

The value of Japan's currency has tumbled so much, that its value is back to where it was in 1990, shortly after Japan's famous bubble economy" burst. For a moment on Monday it was trading at 160 yen to US$1. A few years ago, it was closer to 100 yen to US$1.

The yen's accelerating slide could ultimately be bad news for people in Japan. A weaker yen squeezes households by increasing import costs. Japan is heavily reliant on imports for both energy supplies and food, meaning inflation could rise.