(MENAFN) Japan’s real wages dropped for the eighth month in a row this August, as consumer price hikes outpaced nominal salary increases, according to data released Wednesday by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

The ministry’s latest monthly survey revealed that average cash earnings per worker—including base pay and overtime—grew 1.5 percent year-on-year to 300,517 yen (approximately $1,967), marking 44 consecutive months of nominal wage growth.

Scheduled wages, such as base pay, rose 2.1 percent to 268,202 yen, maintaining gains for the 46th straight month.

Yet, when accounting for inflation, real wages declined 1.4 percent year-on-year, highlighting that pay raises are failing to keep pace with rising consumer prices.

While initial July data suggested a slight real wage increase, the final revision revealed a 0.2-percent decrease, extending the downward trend to eight months, the report confirmed.

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