Various cost increases due to hit family budgets from Oct

Monday 28th September, 06:37 AM JST

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proudathiest at 07:20 AM JST - 28th September

some14some> that depends who you are.

And MORE health insurance "contributions"??? WTF!?
hachmike66 at 07:45 AM JST - 28th September

I always laugh when I read about the increase in the cost of electricity being 9~34 yen per family. Really! The total increase will be a third of the cost of a can of coke? And people are having a hard time paying this? Why don't you tell us the true increase. Also why is oil going up again. The last time I checked the world economy was still in a recession, like it or not. The yen is very strong right now, so that should offset an rise in the price of oil. Just another gouge of the consumer.
joetheplumber at 08:27 AM JST - 28th September

Keep hitting consumers. That is all it has been all the years. Politicians get fat salaries and can afford anything. Ask the working class. Great work DP. Looks like you will not be in for long at this rate.
Hoolie at 09:13 AM JST - 28th September

Joe - the changes that the government has control over were actually implemented by the LDP. The DPJ has only been in power for a little over a month.
joetheplumber at 10:02 AM JST - 28th September

Hoolie the DPJ can reverse LDP decisions...look at what Obama has done with his predecessor's decisions. But the DPJ needs the extra revenue.
DeepAir65 at 10:15 AM JST - 28th September

JAL and ANA should not be allowed to implement the fuel surcharge. Fuel prices have come down since they applied for it so it is not warranted now.

I heard that there was going to be some sort of child benefit system as well being introduced?
franz75 at 10:16 AM JST - 28th September

Hehe, people reduce their spending so they increase their prices? I don't get it...
jewel at 10:33 AM JST - 28th September

I agree with joetheplumber, politicians do get fat salaries, lots of free fringe benefits, & always increase taxes to keep their own wallets fat. And their own well being is their 1st priority. I find it amusing that in the US the politicians try to say they are "public servants". I dont see them serving anyone, but I see masses of ppl slaving away to keep politicians living a luxurious life. Anyway, that is the way it is anywhere you go in the world to make the ppl work hard to support politicians elite lifestyles and power trips.
joetheplumber at 11:04 AM JST - 28th September

When was the lst time the average Joe got a payrise? Any small payrises are immediately taken back in taxes and cost increases. They do not need to increase electricity and gas. How on earth are they going to get Japan up and running again? Consumer confidence is sagging.
Osakadaz at 11:55 AM JST - 28th September

The childbirth subsidy is set to increase 40,000 yen to 420,000 yen　≧　I think there is a zero missing there. Really though,you can't win.The govt raises contributions to 420,000 yen and the hospitals have just raised their costs in line with that.The Child support will be raised to about 26,000 yen a month,but the govt. will start taking away any tax benefits from having more kids. I lose 70,000 a month to tax and health contributions (just for myself)and most of the money I am being forced to pay into nenkin will disappear if I leave Japan..We are taxed on goods and services, taxed on the year before with no concession made to lower wages in the current year, and there is no tax return system either...I am thoroughly over it.
joetheplumber at 01:06 PM JST - 28th September

Osakadaz, you can get your nenkin contributions back once you leave Japan. Ask about it. The taxes are very high and there are so many hidden ones too.
DeepAir65 at 01:53 PM JST - 28th September

Osakadaz - are you American? Then indeed you will lose most of your nenkin contributions. Brit's and Canadians are OK as the governments have reciprocal agreements. I am sure there are others but those are two I know for sure.

Problem is the Americans scare us all as they shout loudest and give the impression it affects everyone just because it does them...

I thought they had got rid of the childbirth "gift" a few years back - if not good news but it will just cover your medical bills if you go to a standard Japanese hospital...
sharky1 at 09:06 PM JST - 28th September

So much for the money from the government...
Klein2 at 12:11 AM JST - 29th September

Well, if you look really closely at it.

"Consumers on the other hand will become eligible for more generous benefits in other areas from October." Uh NOT.

I get whacked by the higher charges, and I am not eligible for any benefits. Even someone who has children is ineligible for benefits if their income is too high, no matter how many kids they have. Because, you know, we can't support people who believe in family planning, only those who conceive out of wedlock and breed themselves to the poverty level.

It is getting pretty bad. People who live a prudent, decent, planned life are truly being burdened by idiots who just don't care. Why can't I add fuel surcharges when I bill people for my services? Why are my children less deserving of support than others? Why do taxi drivers get relief? Why do utilities get to raise rates when demand is down, even though they are state sanctioned monopolies?

I think that the DPJ does not know what it is doing. Hard work built this nation. Human resources are really all that Japan can bank on as a nation. If there are no rewards and decent people become overburdened, they will cease providing social benefits such as jobs, investment, and consumption. Living life as a slacker is starting to look good these days, and living off the fat of the land has NEVER been part of the Japanese ethic. This will not end well.
Sarge at 12:22 AM JST - 29th September

"putting back in place jet fuel surcharges"

Guaranteeing fewer sold seats. Whatever.

"JAL and ANA should not be allowed to implement the fuel surcharge"

Sure, they should be. They should charge customers as much as they can get away with! Supply and demand! ( they won't be charging me anything, as I will not fly them when I can fly other airlines for far less )