Japan’s Nominal Wages Rise in Bright Spot as Outlook Darkens

Japan’s nominal wages rose more than expected in a positive sign for the domestic economy just as external headwinds related to trade are clouding the outlook.

Nominal cash earnings for workers climbed 3.1% in February from a year earlier, with the pace accelerating from a revised 1.8% in January, the labor ministry said Monday. The reading beat economists’ estimate of 3%.