Rio - Data from the Monthly Industrial Survey of Employment and Wages (Pimes), released today by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), reveal the increase in payrolls as another indicator of expansion in the industrial sector. During the first half of the year, payrolls overall presented an 8.9% rise in workers' earnings, after three straight months of negative results.

The index of growth was 8.4% for the month and 3.1% for the last twelve months. Growth in the secnd quarter of 2004 was 8.1%, in comparison with the same period in 2003. In terms of average payrolls, the results were also positive: 6.7% for the month, 8.8% so far this year, and 3.8% for the last twelve months.

The moving quarterly average index shows that the payroll results were higher at the beginning of the year, due to the decrease in inflation and the payment of benefits, while the quarters ending in May and June were lower. Despite a small decline between May and June (-0.2%), the payroll level was 7.9% higher than in June, 2003.

Agência Brasil
Translator: David Silberstein
08/18/2004