Japan finance minister says economy recovering, sales tax hike to go ahead

[TOKYO] Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said on Friday that the economy was in a moderate recovery and that there was no change in the government's plan to raise the national sales tax in October.

Asked about the US Federal Reserve's move to pause interest rate hikes, Mr Aso said he thought that was not a bad idea for the US economy.

Mr Aso was speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting.

REUTERS