The average net monthly earnings in Romania grew by 11.2 percent year-on-year in February, to RON 2,487 (EUR 534), but almost half of the increase was lost due to rising inflation, National Institute of Statistics (INS) data showed on Wednesday.
Real wages increased by only 6.2 percent between February 2017 and February 2018, due to high inflation rate (4.7 percent in February, year-on-year).
In December, Romania posted record average net monthly earnings of RON 2,629 (EUR 567), due to granting of year-end bonuses.
Compared to January, net wages rose 0.1 percent (RON 3) in February, but declined 0.2 percent in real terms, official data show.
The gross average monthly earnings declined to RON 4,128 (EUR 887) in February, down from RON 4,143 (EUR 891) in January.
Since the beginning of this year, the social security contribution and the social health insurance contribution paid by the employer were transferred to the employee in Romania, and the effect was a sudden surge of the gross wages in January, from RON 3,662 (EUR 790) in December.
The highest net monthly earnings were recorded in February in IT sector (RON 6,134, EUR 1,318) and airline transport (RON 5,079, EUR 1,091) and the lowest in accommodation and food service activities (RON 1,499, EUR 322).
Romania has the second lowest average wage among the European Union member states, after Bulgaria.