Italian wages rose 2.5% year-on-year in September, well below inflation

Istat reported that hourly contractual wages remained unchanged in September compared to August, with a 2.5% increase from September 2025. This growth is lower than the annual inflation rate of 4.2%, indicating a real wage decline. Private-sector wages rose by 2.3% year-over-year, with agriculture at 3.3%, industry at 2.6%, and private services at 2.1%. The public sector saw a 3.2% increase. Wage growth has not kept pace with inflation for two consecutive quarters.