Hungary's gross average wages rose by an annual 16.1% in January following a 17.9% increase in December, the Central Statistics Office (KSH) said on Tuesday. The highest average gross earnings were recorded in the information and communication section and the lowest ones in accommodation and food service activities, the KSH said. The KSH said that from January 2023 onwards, it was including the whole circle of employers into its earnings statistics, replacing the circle of enterprises employing at least 5 persons, budgetary institutions as well as non-profit organisations that are significant in terms of employment.

The KSH said the difference between the main indicators calculated for the two reference groups "was not significant." "Between 2019 and 2022, a difference of 2.6% and 3.5% ...could be observed concerning average gross earnings," it added. (% change from pvs year) Jan 2023 Dec 2022 Jan 2022 GROSS WAGE GROWTH 16.1 17.9 14.2 Private sector 17.0 18.1 13.3 Public sector 13.6 17.6 12.8 (Reporting by Krisztina Than)