Group 1 - A majority of economists predict that the Bank of Japan will forgo further interest rate hikes this year due to uncertainties surrounding U.S. tariff policies, with the next expected increase of 25 basis points being postponed until early 2026 [1][2] - The survey indicates that 75% of respondents expect the Japanese government to reduce the issuance of ultra-long-term government bonds, reflecting growing concerns over public finance [1][3] - The Bank of Japan is still tightening monetary conditions, with Governor Kazuo Ueda emphasizing readiness to continue raising rates if inflation approaches the 2% target [1][3] Group 2 - Among 58 surveyed economists, 52% expect borrowing costs to remain at 0.50% by the end of the year, contrasting sharply with a previous survey where 52% anticipated rates would rise to 0.75% by the end of 2025 [2] - 75% of respondents believe that the Bank of Japan will slow down the pace of government bond purchases starting next fiscal year, with predictions for quarterly reductions ranging from 2 trillion to 3.7 trillion yen [3][4] - The government is considering reducing the issuance of ultra-long-term bonds due to weak auction results and rising debt concerns, with significant pressure to cut issuance starting in July [4]