Abe Eyeing Economic Measures for Consumption Tax Hike

   Tokyo, May 28 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese government will implement large-scale economic measures to smooth the way for a consumption tax hike from 8 pct to 10 pct in October 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday.
   The government "will take temporary special measures under the initial budgets for fiscal 2019 and 2020," Abe told a meeting of his Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy.
   The plan for special economic measure will be included in annual economic and fiscal policy guidelines due out next month.
   Abe instructed economic and fiscal policy minister Toshimitsu Motegi to consider specific economic steps.
   The move comes amid concerns about a possible drop in consumption following a surge in demand before the tax increase.

(2018/05/28-23:48)