Average net salary increases to 5,242 lei in July

The average net salary increased to 5,242 lei in July this year, up 66 lei or 1.3%, compared to June 2024, while the average gross wage reached 8,580 lei in July, up 100 lei (+1.2%) compared to the previous month, according to data the National Institute of Statistics (INS) released on Thursday.Compared to July of the previous year, the average net wage increased 14.8%.The highest values of the average net earnings were recorded in the manufacture of coke work products and products obtained from the processing of crude oil (13,052 lei), and the lowest in the manufacture of clothing (3,054 lei).The real salary gain index was 108.9% in July 2024 compared to July 2023, and the real salary gain index was 100.7% in July 2024 compared to June 2024.Compared with October 1990, the real wage gain index was 253.3%, 1.7 percentage points higher than in June 2024.The INS mentions that during the year there are fluctuations in wage earnings, mainly due to annual bonuses and holiday bonuses, especially in the months taken as a basis of comparison (December, March/April). They influence the increases or decreases depending on the period in which they are granted, ultimately leading to a smoothing of fluctuations in monthly earnings over the whole year. The evolution of real wage earnings depends both on fluctuations in the average net wage and on the inflation rate, says the INS.In the budget sector, there were decreases in the average net wage income compared to the previous month in education (-4.3%), mainly due to the reduction in the amounts of hourly pay for teachers during the school vacation period, respectively in public administration (-0.4%).Average net earnings increased slightly compared to the previous month in health and social care (+0.2%).The average gross monthly gross wage gain is determined by reporting the gross amounts paid from the salary fund, net profit and other funds (excluding compensatory amounts, amounts paid retroactively as a result of winning in court the rights to benefits for previous years) to the average number of employees, says the INS.