TOKYO (AFX-ASIA) - Nationwide consumer prices in February fell 0.5 pct month-on-month after falling 0.2 pct in January, the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications said. Year-on-year, nationwide CPI in February fell 1.6 pct, compared with a 1.4 pct fall in January, the agency said. Excluding fluctuations in fresh food prices, consumer prices fell 0.2 pct month-on-month after falling 0.5 pct in January, and fell 0.8 pct year-on-year, from a fall of 0.8 pct, it said. Private-sector economists had forecast February CPI to come in at between a fall of 1.2 and a fall of 1.6 pct year-on-year, with the consensus around a fall of 1.4 pct.