Japan's monthly wages down for 18th month

Tokyo - Inflation-adjusted monthly wages in Japan fell 1.4% in December, marking the 18th consecutive month of declines despite improved corporate earnings, the government said on Wednesday.

The figure followed a 2.7% fall in November and a 3.0% decline in October, the Labour Ministry said in a preliminary report.

The nation's average monthly wages dropped sharply after the government raised sales tax to 8% in April from 5%.

For 2014, average monthly wages were down 2.5%, the second-largest decline after a 2.6% fall in 2009, amid an upturn in inflation due to the tax increase and aggressive monetary easing steps introduced by the Bank of Japan, the ministry said.