Definition: In this task, a passage will be given and the goal is to identify an event from the passage. An event is defined as a single word representing something that happened, is happening, or may happen. An event can be factual or hypothetical, positive or negative, certain or uncertain. While most events are based on verbs, an event can also be based on a noun (ex. storm, snow, rainfall) or a copula verb (is, was, been, etc.). The event must not be a pronoun or an adjective. For noun events with multiple words, use the last word in the phrase as event.
Input: Passage: "The BoJ may need to confirm first that consumer spending has accelerated before hiking rates," said NLI Research Institute senior economist Taro Saito, who is looking at a rate increase either in January or February. The market had widely expected the decision after the mixed economic data, including just 0.1 percent year-on-year growth in core consumer prices.

expected