And...the price of postage for domestic postcards and letters are going up by 2 yen also (why do post offices always make the increase so that you need to buy 1 yen stamps?!)
Train fares as well as many other things are raising their prices to adhere to the tax increases.
People were stocking up on things like crazy before the increase, I didn't because 1) I have no space for tons of t.p. (toilet paper) and 2) I'm sure they'll have sales once the tax increases.
Oh, and don't worry, the sales tax is supposedly going to go up again in 2015, from 8% to 10%...
I can't vote in Japan, but do want to rant this...
I'm pretty sure that if you would use our tax monies "properly" you wouldn't have to raise our taxes so often, and if you do have to raise them, use them for "stuff" we need...
Wow, 8% that's unreal and increase again in 2015! Hawaii is still 4.712% for general items, but do have higher taxes for cigarettes and liquor.
ReplyDeletethey are actually forecasting to go as high as 25%, Mich, like in Denmark?!...can you believe until 1989, Japan didn't even have sales tax?!
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Kat
I feel your pain. Not long ago our sales tax went up 1% (from 21 to 22). Other things costing more too (I have to pay 2€ just to send a post card!). I find myself looking for more ways to be thrifty on everything from food to clothes and even feeding our munkeys. Dining out (as in real meals and not McD's) is becoming a very rare thing since we usually drop at least 70-80€ for a nice meal with wine. I save on visits to the doggie stylist by cutting their coats myself (I'm getting better at not leaving too many "rat bites" - LOL!).
ReplyDeleteGeez.....like 2% a year?
ReplyDeleteUgh what a hassle!
ReplyDeleteRowena, yeah they were talking about how even if they raise the tax, the cost of making goods will go up so everything will get more expensive...sigh. Your poor kids, with the "rat bites" :)
ReplyDeleteSomething like that Kirk :p
indeed K!
Take care everyone!
Kat