Abe Orders Japan's First Sales-Tax Increase Since '97

``Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe proceeded with an April sales-tax increase and a 5 trillion yen ($51 billion) stimulus plan as he tries to rein in the world's biggest debt burden without negating efforts to end deflation... Abe is under pressure to keep a recovery going after the economy grew an annualized 3.8 percent in the second quarter, a third straight advance for gross domestic product. While consumer prices rose in August the most since 2008, the gains stemmed from higher energy costs that have squeezed households in the absence of wage increases.''