Inflation-adjusted wages in Japan fell for the first time in three months in August, as price rises outpaced a sharp increase in workers’ pay.
The labor ministry says the average real wage fell 0.6 percent from August last year, ending two consecutive months of positive growth.
The ministry conducts a nationwide monthly survey of more than 30,000 businesses with at least five employees.
The survey shows that average monthly income, including base pay and overtime, came to 296,588 yen, or about 2,000 dollars.
That’s up 3 percent year-on-year in yen terms, and marks an increase for the 32nd month in a row.
Base pay also grew 3 percent, the sharpest rise in nearly 32 years. But it failed to keep up with the pace of inflation.
Labor ministry officials said real wages had rebounded in the previous months, as spring wage talks resulted in big pay hikes.
They said more businesses awarded summer bonuses in June and July, with some firms doing so for the first time.
But they noted that the effects weakened in August, likely leading to the decline in real pay.