There just might be some hope for Japan's underpaid workers
though figures out Monday painted a complicated picture. Real
wages that's adjusted for inflation fell for a record 26th
month in May. However, average base pay actually
rose at its fastest pace in 31 years. Economists
say that's a sign that big pay hikes agreed by
companies in annual labor negotiations are filtering through to workers
base pay jumped an average 2.5% on the year.
The biggest number since early 1993 around the time Japan's
bubble economy burst. One economist told Reuters that the
feeder for real wages should also soon start rising factors
. Driving the upturn include worsening labor shortages that has
seen wage hikes at all. But the smallest firms
outpacing inflation for the first time in 26 months,
the bank of Japan will be studying the numbers very
carefully. Governor Kazuo Ueda has said he wants to
see evidence that pay hikes are boosting inflation before he
raises rates again. Reuters sources say a report from
the bank later this month will say that pay increases
are spreading. Suggesting another move on rates could be 00:01:17.239 --> approaching