Japan might delay again a sales tax hike planned for October if the Bank of Japan's next quarterly "tankan" survey shows deterioration in the economy, a senior ruling party official who's close to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said.

"The economy is slowing a bit. If the BOJ's June tankan shows a danger ahead, we cannot take everyone to a cliff edge," Kyodo news quoted Koichi Hagiuda, acting secretary-general of Abe's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), as saying.

"We still have time" before deciding whether to go ahead with the tax hike to 10 percent from 8 percent, he told an Internet TV programme, adding that Abe would call an election if he decides to put it off, according to Kyodo.