Germany: the difference between employees’ income and companies’ income increased in 2006

According to the federal Office of statistics, Germany reported in 2006 its strongest growth (+2,5%) since 2000. But in spite of the recovery, the pay of employees has increased only slightly last year, contrary to companies' earnings. This should support the position of trade unions, which ask for bigger pay rises in 2007 (see story nº 70007). (Ref. 070026)
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“The two components of the national income, employees’ earnings on one side and companies and capital’s income on the other, evolve, as in the previous years, in a very different way”, said Walter Radermacher, President of the federal Office of statistics, during a press conference on January 11th in Frankfurt. Indeed, employees’ salaries (that is to say 1 144 billion euros) increased in 2006 by only of 1.3% compared to 2005, whereas the income of companies and capital (about 584 billion euros

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