The ruling coalition on Friday agreed on certain parts of a ¥5 trillion stimulus package being readied to ease the impact of the planned sales tax hike, including handouts of up to ¥15,000 for lower income households.
The package will be unveiled Tuesday, when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announces whether he will hike the sales tax to 8 percent next April from 5 percent now.
The economic steps, which would be financed in part by revenue from the tax hike, would be introduced to dodge criticism that the higher levy might dampen consumer confidence and weaken business performance.
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