The average wage rate rose 0.7% in nominal terms in December over the same month last year, the Census & Statistics Department says.

About 51% of companies surveyed reported some increase in average wage rates, 36% saw some decrease, while the remaining 13% saw almost no change. After discounting the increase in consumer prices, the overall average wage rate for all the major sectors dropped 0.7% in real terms.

In the fourth quarter of 2005, the index of payroll per person engaged for all the major sectors surveyed rose 1.3% in nominal terms. After netting out the effect of the increase in consumer prices, the average payroll per person engaged fell 0.3% in real terms.

The wage rate includes basic wages and other regular and guaranteed allowances and bonuses. The wage indices cover employees up to the supervisory level, not including managerial and professional employees.

Detailed breakdowns of the payroll and wage statistics are published in the Quarterly Report of Wage & Payroll Statistics, March 2006. The publication is now on sale at $39 a copy from Government Publications Centres. It can also be purchased online at the Statistical Bookstore. Soft copies are available for immediate downloading, while hard copies will be delivered by mail. For enquiries on payroll and wage statistics call 2887 5550.