June's average wage rate grew 3.8% in nominal terms over a year earlier, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.

About 65% of companies reported increase in average wage rates in June compared with a year ago, while 33% recorded decreases. The remaining 2% reported virtually no change.

After discounting the changes in consumer prices as measured by the Consumer Price Index A, the overall average wage rate dropped 0.1% in real terms.

The index of payroll per person engaged increased 4.1% in nominal terms in the second quarter of 2019 over a year earlier.

After discounting the changes in consumer prices, the average payroll per person engaged increased 1.1% in real terms during the same period.