J. Safra Sarasin economist Louis Chua said Japan plans to cut the food consumption tax from 8% to 1% effective April 2027, a move by Sanae Takaichi’s government to allay mounting cost-of-living concerns that have weakened public confidence in inflation management. Chua expects retailers—especially supermarket operators, discount chains and food-focused drugstores—and restaurants with pricing power to be primary beneficiaries. The bank added that increased market volatility could, in the short te

J. Safra Sarasin economist Louis Chua said Japan plans to cut the food consumption tax from 8% to 1% effective April 2027, a move by Sanae Takaichi’s government to allay mounting cost-of-living concerns that have weakened public confidence in inflation management. Chua expects retailers—especially supermarket operators, discount chains and food-focused drugstores—and restaurants with pricing power to be primary beneficiaries. The bank added that increased market volatility could, in the short term, accelerate flows out of technology into defensive and domestic-demand-focused stocks.