Japan real wages hit 5-month high in November - Reuters

Japan's real wages (inflation adjusted) rose to a five-month high in November, raising hopes for a stronger consumer spending.

The inflation-adjusted real wages rose 1.1 percent in November from a year earlier, following a 0.1 percent decline in October. Notably, wages have risen for the first time in four months, partly due to a slowdown in the consumer price index.

Nominal cash earnings grew 2.0 percent in the year to November, accelerating from a 1.5 percent gain in October, thanks to a solid increase in regular pay and special payments, including bonuses, a labor ministry official said, according to Reuters.