TOKYO -- Support for higher fiscal spending and opposition to a planned consumption tax hike are on the rise, a new Nikkei Inc./TV Tokyo poll shows, indicating an intensifying sense that the Japanese economy is losing speed.

Respondents deeming stimulus powered by a bigger budget a necessity increased 8 percentage points from February's survey to 55%. Those believing such policies unnecessary fell 9 points to 26%. Supporters of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's signature economic policies rose 3 points to 34%, while the other camp shrank 1 point to 49%.

Opposition to raising the consumption tax to 10% in April 2017 climbed 3 points to 61%. It topped 60% for the first time since November 2014, when Abe announced the postponement of the hike from the initially planned October 2015. Those saying the increase should proceed as scheduled fell 3 points to 30%.

Upon delaying the hike in 2014, Abe dissolved the Diet's lower house in a snap election to put the issue to the people. If the hike is delayed again, the prime minister should call another lower house race to coincide with July's upper house election, 39% of respondents said, while 37% opposed such a move.

Approval and disapproval of the cabinet dropped 1 point each to 46% and 38%. Support for Abe's Liberal Democratic Party rose 1 point to 38%, while the share of respondents expressing support for no party in particular grew 2 points to 41%. The Democratic Party, formed Sunday through the merger of the Democratic Party of Japan and the Japan Innovation Party, drew the support of 9%.

Adults nationwide were surveyed Friday through Sunday via random-digit dialing. Of the 1,390 eligible households reached, 1,012, or 72.8%, provided responses.

(Nikkei)