TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese workers' inflation-adjusted real wages rose in June at the fastest pace in more than 21 years, fuelled by an increase in summer bonuses, government data showed, in an encouraging sign that consumer spending and inflation will pick up.
The 2.8 percent rise in real wages in June from a year earlier was the biggest gain since a 6.2 percent annual increase in January 1997, and followed a 1.3 percent annual increase in May, labour ministry data showed on Tuesday.
The data should be encouraging to the Bank of Japan as it struggles to accelerate inflation to its 2 percent target despite more than five years of massive monetary stimulus.
Nominal cash earnings rose 3.6 percent year-on-year in June, faster than a 2.1 percent annual increase in May.
Regular pay, which accounts for the bulk of monthly wages, grew 1.5 percent in June from a year earlier. Special one-off payments, which include summer bonuses, jumped an annual 7.0 percent.
Overtime pay, a barometer of strength in corporate activity, rose an annual 3.5 percent in June versus a revised 2.0 percent increase in May.
Major Japanese firms typically pay bonuses twice a year, once during the summer and once near year's end.
The following table shows preliminary data for monthly incomes and numbers of workers in June:
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Payments (amount) (yr/yr pct change)
Total cash earnings 448,919 yen +3.6
-Monthly wage 265,611 yen +1.5
-Regular pay 245,918 yen +1.3
-Overtime pay 19,693 yen +3.5
-Special payments 183,308 yen +7.0
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Number of workers (million) (yr/yr pct change)
Overall 50.213 mln +1.5
-General employees 35.039 mln +1.8
-Part-time employees 15.174 mln +0.9----------------------------------------------------------------
The ministry defines "workers" as 1) those who are employed for more than one month at a firm that employs more than five people, or 2) those who are employed on a daily basis or have less than a one-month contract but had worked more than 18 days during the two months before the survey was conducted at a firm that employs more than five people.
To view the full tables, see the labour ministry's website at: http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/database/db-l/index.html
(Reporting by Stanley White; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
