The average wage rate, as measured by the wage index, grew 2.6% in nominal terms in June, over the same month last year, the Census & Statistics Department says.

June saw about 59% of companies record increases in average wage rates, while 27% saw falls. The remaining 14% reported virtually no change.

After discounting the rise in consumer prices the overall average wage rate for all major sectors surveyed rose 1.8% in real terms.

The index of payroll per person engaged for all the major sectors surveyed grew 2.9% in nominal terms in the second quarter over a year earlier.

After netting out the effect of the increase in consumer prices, the average payroll per person engaged rose 1.7% in real terms in the second quarter.

For the nominal wage indices, year-on-year increases were observed in all selected major sectors in June, ranging from 1.6% to 6.2%.

For the real wage indices, year-on-year increases ranging from 0.8% to 5.4% were recorded in all selected major sectors.

As for the nominal indices of payroll per person engaged, year-on-year increases were recorded in almost all major sectors in the second quarter, ranging from 1.9% to 4.1%. Yet for the community, social and personal services sector, a marginal year-on-year decrease was observed.

As for the real payroll indices, year-on-year increases were observed, ranging from 0.7% to 2.9%, in the manufacturing sector, the wholesale, retail and import-export trades, restaurants and hotels sector, the transport, storage and communications sector, and the financing, insurance, real estate and business services sector.