Collective wages up by 2.4 percent in 2008

According to the Federal Statistical Office, monthly collective wages increased by on average 2.4% in Germany in the period from January 2008 to January 2009. At the same time, consumer prices rose by 0.9%.

However, collective wages did not increase equally in all economic sectors. Employees of utility companies and trading companies, for instance, received 3.1% more wage. In the field of transportation this increase amounted to 2.4 % and in the processing industry to 2.3%. In the restaurant industry (+1.7 %) and in the field of information and communication (+ 0.8 %) which include publishing, TV and radio broadcasting as well as telecommunications the wage increase was below-average.

Monthly collective wages increased by 2.8 % in the new German states in the east and by 2.2 % in the old states in the west. GERMAN

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