Abe says 2014 GDP key to second sales tax increase

TOKYO: Japan's economic growth in the July-September quarter next year will be a crucial factor determining whether the government proceeds with a second stage of sales tax increases in 2015, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Friday.

The government has already decided to raise the sales tax to 8% from 5% in April, which is part of a two-stage increase that will bring the tax rate to 10% in October 2015.