EIN064_Japan's real wage down 3.1% in April, largest fall since Dec. 2009 【Tambaboon IELTS Lab Sydney Australia】 英語 ニュース オーストラリア

I found noteworthy news on Mainichi Japan.
Kyodo reported this story on June 03, 2014

The average real, or inflation-adjusted, wages in April for employees in Japan decreased 3.1 percent from a year earlier, marking the largest year-on-year fall in more than four years, the labor ministry reported Tuesday. The pace of decline was the fastest since December 2009, when the wages decelerated 4.3 percent from year-before levels. An increasing number of companies raised wages this spring but price rises triggered by a consumption tax hike on April 1 could not be absorbed, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. Average monthly pay for workers in Japan rose 0.9 percent in April from a year earlier to 274,761 yen, thanks to increased overtime pay and bonuses, according to the ministry. Nonscheduled cash earnings, including overtime pay, grew 5.1 percent to 20,564 yen, while special salary including bonus payments increased 20.5 percent to 10,208 yen. But the average basic salary fell for the 23rd straight month, declining 0.2 percent to 243,989 yen.

Statement analysis
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1. The average real, or inflation-adjusted, wages 
2. in April for employees in Japan 
3. decreased 3.1 percent from a year earlier, 
4. marking the largest year-on-year fall in more than four years, 
5. the labor ministry reported Tuesday.

1. The pace of decline was the fastest since December 2009, 
2. when the wages decelerated 4.3 percent from year-before levels.

1. An increasing number of companies raised wages this spring 
2. but price rises triggered by a consumption tax hike on April 1 
3. could not be absorbed, 
4. according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

1. Average monthly pay for workers in Japan rose 0.9 percent in April 
2. from a year earlier to 274,761 yen, 
3. thanks to increased overtime pay and bonuses, 
4. according to the ministry.

1. Nonscheduled cash earnings, 
2. including overtime pay, grew 5.1 percent to 20,564 yen, 
3. while special salary including bonus payments 
4. increased 20.5 percent to 10,208 yen.

1. But the average basic salary fell for the 23rd straight month, 
2. declining 0.2 percent to 243,989 yen.

Word vocabulary - English
-------------------------------------------
consumption tax
A consumption tax is a tax on spending on goods and services. The tax base of such a tax is the money spent on consumption. 

thanks to
Because of; normally used with a positive connotation, though it can be used sarcastically

nonscheduled
denoting or relating to an airline that operates without fixed or published flying schedules.

cash earnings
A firm's cash revenues less cash expenses, which excludes the costs of depreciation.

while
during the time that; at the same time as.
whereas (indicating a contrast).
in spite of the fact that; although.

bonus payment
A bonus payment is usually made to employees in addition to their base salary as part of their wages or Salary.

Word vocabulary - Japanese
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year-on-year
【名・副】前年比（で）、対前年比（で）◆【略】yr/yr ; y/y
【形】年度ごとの◆【略】yr/yr

consumption tax
消費税

year earlier
《a ～》前年

thanks to
【1】～のおかげで
【2】～の結果

nonscheduled
【形】スケジュール以外の、所定外の、不定期運航の、不定期運行の

cash earnings
現金収入、現金給与

while
[h]wáil
【接続-2】～なのに、～ではあるものの、～だが、～とはいえ、しかし一方
【接続-3】その上、さらに、おまけに
【＠】ホワイル

bonus payment
賞与の支払

average salary
平均給与

straight month
＿カ月連続で◆straight の直前に序数（second, third）が入る

Reference
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Kyodo. (2014). Japan's real wage down 3.1% in April, largest fall since Dec. 2009. Available: http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20140603p2g00m0bu068000c.html
Last accessed 10th June 2014.

「"【図解・経済産業】平均給与の推移"」『時事ドットコム』より。

URL: http://www.jiji.com/jc/graphics?p=ve_eco_company-heikinkyuyo