Japan’s nominal wages rise 4.6% in September, fastest since January 1997
Japan’s September nominal wages rose 4.6% year on year, the fastest increase since January 1997, while real wages increased 2.2% for a ninth consecutive monthly gain, according to Reuters as cited in the article. Basic pay rose 3.7%, while special payments, mainly one-off bonuses, jumped 32.6%. Japan’s labor ministry attributed the special-payment surge to statistical factors rather than an actual sharp increase in bonuses or other payments.