The data is here: Japan - Labour cash earnings (March): -0.4% y/y (expected +0.5%)
Reuters with more:
- Real wages fell at the fastest pace in almost two years
- pressured by meager nominal pay hikes and a slight rise in consumer prices
- A setback for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's attempts to revitalize the economy
- The wages figures back recent data showing household spending fell more than expected and core consumer prices rose at a slower-than-expected pace in March, suggesting an exit from the central bank's radical quantitative easing program remains distant
- The data underscores the fragile and patchy nature of Japan's economic recovery
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Data such as this will keep the Bank of Japan very firmly in 'aggressive' easing mode. Governor Kuroda seems on board with this ;-) BOJ's Kuroda: Aggressive monetary easing still necessary