Speculation that the delayed second stage of the consumption tax hike will be postponed yet again was reinforced Friday after a pro-government daily reported that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is considering the option.
On the front page of its Friday edition, The Yomiuri Shimbun, whose English version is known as The Japan News, reported without naming a source that Abe is considering delaying the hike by one to two years due to concern it could trigger another economic slowdown.
The paper also reported that Abe is considering dissolving the Lower House for a snap election to coincide with the summer Upper House election, which is crucial to his quest to amend the Constitution.