TOKYO, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese government plans to extend subsidies aimed at lowering gasoline prices and utility bills from the year-end to April 2024, local media reported on Tuesday.
The government will consider phasing out gasoline subsidies if economic conditions allow, and it plans to reduce support for electricity and gas fees from May next year while keeping an eye on global fuel price trends, Kyodo News reported, citing a source familiar with the matter as saying.
The plans have been included in the draft of a new economic stimulus package that the Cabinet is expected to approve on Nov. 2, the report said.
The subsidy programs for curbing fuel prices and electricity and gas bills were originally scheduled to end in September, but as prices started to increase again, the government extended them until the end of the year. ■
