41.   Major Japanese newspapers reported Thursday that Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto was considering making temporary tax cuts permanent to boost consumer spending.

42.   Major Japanese newspapers said Thursday that Hashimoto was considering making temporary tax cuts permanent to boost consumer spending.

43.   Market participants said the plan was unlikely to include substantial income tax cuts which business groups had called for to boost consumer spending.

44.   Retail sales figures in February showed the sharpest month-on-month increase for two years, as low interest rates helped to boost consumer spending.

45.   The economic package is expected to include a tax cut to boost consumer spending, reductions in government spending, aid to struggling companies and a debt swap.

46.   The measures are expected to include a tax cut to boost consumer spending, spending cuts, aid to struggling private companies and a debt swap.

47.   The package did not include an increase in spending on public projects or income tax cuts, which business groups had called for to boost consumer spending.

48.   Those rebates are expected to boost consumer spending, which accounts for two-thirds of the economy.

49.   They also expect the recently passed tax cut to help boost consumer spending.

50.   They also expect the recently-passed tax cut to help boost consumer spending.