China’s wage increases continued to outstrip price...
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China’s wage increases continued to outstrip price rises in April, but urban inflation, a catalyst behind last year’s bloody political turmoil, is again on the rise.
The State Statistical Bureau said prices in urban areas rose 4.6% in April, compared to the same month a year ago, while wages for all workers climbed 10.5% to $4.4 billion.
In the first three months of this year, urban inflation averaged only 3.9%.
Western economists said the government was buying social stability in the approach to the first anniversary of the unrest last June when troops thundered into Beijing to crush mass pro-democracy demonstrations. Hundreds of people were killed. China will also host the Asian Games in September.
A major gripe against the government in 1989 was an average inflation rate of 18%, compared to salary increases of 14%.
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