As Abe's political ratings fade, top official calls for delay in next sales tax hike
A top government official said Prime Minister Shinzo Abe should delay a planned consumption tax increase, the strongest sign yet that economic weakness is causing concern among those close to Abe ahead of his final decision on the levy. "I think it should be delayed" ...
BOJ struggling to meet inflation deadline, former vice governor says
The Bank of Japan may need more time to achieve its 2 percent inflation target and the country can't ignore harm caused by an abrupt weakening of the yen, said Toshiro Muto, a two-time contender to lead the central bank. "The hurdle is pretty high ...
Economy probably slowed more than expected in second quarter, Amari says
Economic and fiscal policy minister Akira Amari said Sunday he thinks the economy's pace in the July-September quarter will be "slower than expected." But the government should closely look into economic trends because it cannot be said at the moment whether the government will complete ...
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is keeping quiet about whether to he will raise the consumption tax in October 2015 as scheduled, saying only that he will make a final decision while "comprehensively" analyzing the economic situation. Hiking the tax to 10 percent next year "would ...
First lady Akie Abe speaks out ahead of consumption tax decision
First Lady Akie Abe said Thursday her husband's administration should consider cutting wasteful spending and boosting the economy before going ahead with a rise in the consumption tax to 10 percent. "Considering the falling birthrate and aging society, it probably can't be helped," she said ...
Japan's economy suffers biggest decline since 2011 as tax hike bites
The Japanese economy suffered its biggest contraction since the March 2011 earthquake in the second quarter of this year as the hike in sales tax to 8 from 5 percent took a heavy toll on household spending, stoking fears that any rebound may be ...
Homebuyers in Japan seen at risk amid floating-rate loan rush
Japanese homebuyers are piling into floating-rate mortgages, stirring debate over whether they are too complacent as Bank of Japan stimulus revives inflation. The proportion of home loans with adjustable rates climbed to 42.8 percent of Japan's new lending in February, the highest since December, according ...
LVMH profit trails estimates as Japan tax hike hits fashion biz
LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA, the world's largest luxury-goods company, reported first-half earnings that trailed estimates as the strength of the euro weighed on growth and the first stage of the Japanese tax hike hurt sales of fashion and leather goods. Profit from recurring ...
Noda says Abe buying into 'voodoo economics'
Sour grapes are in season in Tokyo as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's predecessor steps up and slams the incumbent's tax plans. However, beneath the bad feelings and twinge of regret, Yoshihiko Noda makes a very timely point when he accuses Abe of buying into former ...
Japan's risk of spurring inflation without boosting the nation's growth potential is raising the stakes for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's next round of economic restructuring measures, due in June. An economy "with low real growth rates under mild inflation" is possible, should the government fail ...
Sales at department stores, electronics chains plunge after tax hike
Sales at department stores, electronics shops and auto dealers sank in the first month after the April 1 consumption tax hike after spiking ahead of the deadline. Four major department store chains including Takashimaya Co. on Thursday reported plunges of between 7.9 to 15.3 percent ...
