Risks to 'Abenomics' growing

TOKYO: If history is a guide, a string of disappointing economic reports in Japan would seem to argue against raising the country's sales tax again. But the risks for "Abenomics" are increasing whatever Prime Minister Shinzo Abe decides to do.

A recovery in the world's third biggest economy is faltering, despite Abe's massive monetary easing and government spending over the past 21 months, and Japan may already be sliding into recession just as he must decide whether to raise the tax once again.