Japan Press Weekly

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2013 August 21 - 27 [ECONOMY]

Polls show large public concern over consumption tax hike

Opinion poll results issued by major news companies on August 26 showed that the majority of the public is concerned over the Abe Cabinet’s plan to increase the consumption tax rate from the current 5% to 8% in April 2014, and to 10% in October 2015.

According to a survey by Nikkei Shimbun, only 17% of the respondents answered that the tax should be raised as planned, 24% said it should not be raised, and 55% thought that the time and the extent of the tax increase need to be reexamined.

In an opinion poll by Asahi Shimbun, 43% agree to the tax hike plan while 49% are against it. It also showed that 77% expressed concerns that the tax increase will cause negative impacts on the economy.

The percentages of those who answered that the consumption tax rate needs to be raised next April are 21% and 22.5% in opinion polls by Mainichi Shimbun and Kyodo News Service respectively.

Katsube Shiro, secretary general of the liaison council against the consumption tax, commented on the opinion polls as follows:

The “Abenomics” policy has failed to increase people’s incomes and has shown no prospect of generating an economic recovery. Under these conditions, the majority of people are opposing the tax increase. National finances will not be restored to health by the consumption tax hike that imposes an even heavier tax burden on ordinary people. The cancelation of the tax hike plan is the best economic stimulus measure.