emirates7 - Japan's real wages increased by 0.4 percent in July compared to the previous year, marking the second consecutive month of growth, driven by wage hikes and summer bonuses, according to government data released on Thursday.

Kyodo News, citing the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, reported that nominal wages, which include base salary and overtime pay, rose by 3.6 percent to an average of 403,490 yen ($2,800) per worker. This marks the 31st consecutive month of nominal wage growth.

The increase in real, inflation-adjusted wages followed a 1.1 percent rise in June, the first such gain in 27 months, also supported by summer bonuses. The ministry attributed the rise in real wages to more companies offering bonuses compared to the previous year. However, the growth rate was smaller as more companies distributed bonuses in June than in July, according to a ministry official.