Abe sticks to plan to hike consumption tax in October 2019

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Saturday his government remains committed to the plan to raise the consumption tax from the current 8 percent to 10 percent in October 2019 as part of efforts to restore Japan's fiscal health.Abe made the remark on a television program after reshuffling his Cabinet and key posts in the Liberal Democratic Party this week in an effort to restore his plunging approval ratings. He highlighted an economic revival and fiscal rehabilitation as his government's main mission.Under the initial plan, the consumption tax was going to be raised to 10 percent in October 201…READ FULL ARTICLE