Notes:
consumption tax 消費税;
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The Japanese government has just decided to raise the consumption tax beginning next April. The tax is 5% now, but it will go up to 8%. If you want to buy something expensive (such as a car or a house), you should probably do it now. At the same time, the U.S. government doesn’t have enough money to pay all of its workers. It has to stop some of its services. Politicians cannot agree on how to spend money, so they won’t give any more money to the government. I hope they reach an agreement soon. (by Prof. Douglas Jarrell)
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