The average net wage was 4,876 lei in February, that is 17 lei (+0.3%) higher compared to January 2024, the lowest values being recorded in clothing manufacturing (2,729 lei), according to data the National Institute of Statistics (INS) released on Friday.

In February 2024, average gross earnings were 7,990 lei, 14 lei (+0.2%) higher than in January 2024.

The highest values of average net earnings were recorded in information technology service activities (including computer service activities) (11,297 lei), and the lowest in clothing manufacturing (2,729 lei).

Compared to February last year, average net earnings increased 14.2%. The index of real earnings was 106.5% in February 2024 compared to February 2023. The real earnings index was 99.5% in February 2024 compared to January 2024. Compared to October 1990, the real wage gain index was 238.6%, 1.1 percentage points lower than in January 2024.

The INS points out that during the year there are fluctuations in earnings mainly due to the granting of annual bonuses and holiday bonuses, especially in the months taken as a basis for comparison (December, March/April). These influence increases or decreases depending on the period in which they are granted, ultimately leading to a smoothing out of fluctuations in monthly earnings over the year. The evolution of real earnings depends both on fluctuations in average net earnings and on the rate of inflation.

In the budget sector, in February 2024, average net earnings increased slightly compared to the previous month in public administration (+0.6%), while in health and social care and education they fell slightly, 0.9% and 0.4% respectively.

AGERPRES