The gross nominal average salary in June 2012 was EUR 479 (RON 2,140) up 1.5 percent on May, while the average net salary was EUR 347 (RON 1,552) or 1.4 percent more than in the previous month, according to figures released today (August 6 ) by the National Statistics Institute (INS).

The highest values of net nominal average earnings were registered in financial mediation firms (EUR 992 ), while the lowest were in hotels and restaurants (EUR 189 ).

The real earning index for June 2012 compared to the previous month, calculated as ratio between net nominal earning index and consumer price index, was 101.4 percent.

Compared with October 1990, the real earning index was 122.6 percent and 1.8 percentage points higher than in May 2012.

The most significant increases in average net earnings were 24.6 percent in the tobacco industry, 23.3 percent in telecommunications, and between 7.5 percent and 12 percent in computers, electronic and optical products, activities auxiliary to financial mediation (including insurance and pension funds), manufacture of pharmaceutical products and beverages.

Also increases between 4.0 percent and 6.5 percent were recorded in financial mediation (excepting insurance and pension funds), extraction of metal ores, mining and other services.

There were increases in public sector  average net earnings compared to May. The government increased the average net wage by 7.9 percent, while workers in health and welfare got 6.9 percent more and those in education received a 4.0 percent rise.

The most significant reductions in net earnings amounted to 16 percent, with big falls in wages in crude oil and natural gas and associated industries. Wages in the coal industry also fell, along with the insurance sector, the motor industry, forestry, logging and fishing.

Compared to June last year, net nominal average wage increased by 5.4 percent. The real earning index over the same period last year was 103.3 percent.

Ioana Toader, ioana.toader@romania-insider.com