Big pay raises awarded in Japan's spring salary negotiations have led to real wages rising in July for the second month in a row.

The labor ministry said on Thursday that inflation-adjusted wages were up 0.4 percent from a year earlier. Real wages increased for the first time in 27 months in June amid rising consumer prices.

The figure comes from the ministry's latest monthly survey of more than 30,000 businesses with at least five employees.

The survey shows that average monthly income, including base pay, overtime and bonuses, came to 403,490 yen, or about 2,800 dollars.

That is 3.6 percent more in yen terms than the same month last year, and marks 31 straight months of increases.

Base pay rose 2.7 percent, the most in more than 31 years.

Ministry officials attribute the increase in real wages to this year's negotiations between employers and unions, in which some businesses agreed to raises or pay bonuses for the first time.

(責任編輯：Leisure)