The decline in real wages was particularly drastic in the third quarter – stronger than at any time since the statistical time series began in 2008.
(Photo: dpa)
Berlin High inflation is causing real wages in Germany to fall more than ever before. From July to September, the gross monthly earnings of employees including special payments grew by an average of 2.3 percent compared to the same quarter of the previous year. However, consumer prices rose by 8.4 percent in the same period, the Federal Statistical Office announced on Tuesday. From this it calculated a real drop in earnings of 5.7 percent.
“This means that employees in Germany have had to accept a loss in real wages for the fourth quarter in a row,” it said. “Furthermore, this is the strongest and longest-lasting fall in real wages since the time series began in 2008.”
Real wages fell 4.4 percent in the second quarter, 1.8 percent in the first quarter and 1.4 percent in the final quarter of 2021.