Japan’s Real Wages Advance for First Time in 13 Months

Japanese workers’ wages adjusted for inflation rose for the first time in 13 months, a development that may bolster consumer sentiment and support both the Bank of Japan and the government in their pursuit of key policy goals.

Real wages increased 1.4% from a year earlier in January, exceeding economists’ median forecast of a 0.9% gain, the labor ministry reported Monday. The gain comes after the measure fell every month in 2025, and it was the fastest increase since May 2021.