text: EPPAA says economic assessment unchanged by GDP data. TOOKYO 1996-12-06 
   Jpaan's Economic Planning Aency has not changed its view that the economy is gradually recovering, despite relatively weak gross domestic product figures released on Tuesday, EPPAA Vice Minister Simpei Hukaya told reporters on Friday. He said the GDP growth was weak but that this reflected the economy between July and September and did not take into account more recent data. When asked about the outlook for the fiscal year beginning in April, Hukaya said the economy may slow down in the early part of the fiscal year due to a planned consumption tax hike, but that would be only temporary. The consumption tax will be raised to five percent from three percent from April 1.
competitors: EPA TOKYO Japan Economic Planning Agency EPA Shimpei Nukaya Nukaya