Monthly 10,000 yen High prices and "inflation allowance" companies also July 22 17:56
"Recently, prices are high, so we will pay 10,000 yen every month."
Nowadays, some companies are starting to provide "inflation allowance" to reduce the burden of living expenses due to rising prices.
Prices go up, but salaries don't.
I interviewed if there are any signs that the current situation will change.
(Inflation coverage group)
Inflation allowance 10,000 yen per month
First of all, I went to a system development company in Tokyo.
The company has about 30 employees, and this company mainly pays young employees an "inflation allowance" of 10,000 yen per month in addition to their salary.
The company began considering inflation allowances in February this year.
Global inflation was the topic of discussion at the conference.
With Russia's invasion of Ukraine, we anticipate that future prices will rise in Japan as well, so we started paying in April.
October is the time to revise the salary, but it means that the salary has started to support the lives of employees.
Mr. Taku Owatari (24 years old), a full-time employee who receives allowance, has been in the company for the third year.
Originally from Hokkaido, I moved to Tokyo after graduating from a local university.
I am in charge of public relations for the company and live alone in Tokyo.
Tokyo faced rising prices where it felt the rent was high.
It is said that the price of food, which has been decided to be kept in the 30,000 yen range per month, is likely to exceed it due to successive price increases, and it is said that prices are rising.
Even if you look at the electricity bill in May, the usage has not changed, but it is about 1000 yen higher than the same month last year, and the monthly fixed cost burden is increasing.
For this reason, we are increasing our self-catering, buying cheap vegetables at supermarkets, making a large amount of soup at a time, and eating it in several days.
This is Mr. Owatari's salary statement.
In the "Housing allowance" in the lower image, 10,000 yen is included as an "inflation allowance".
I am grateful that the monthly allowance of 10,000 yen will increase my salary by 4%.
Mr. Owatari
"There are price increases at restaurants that I usually use.
It is convenient to deliver meals in Tokyo, but I try to reduce the number of times and not use it.
I think it would be good if I could save even a little .
increase"
The company plans to continue to provide "inflation allowances" for the time being, assuming that prices will continue to rise.
President of system development company "Joyzo" Shinomiya
"It is not so easy to raise the overall wage, but I think it is the responsibility of the management to do as much as possible.
Inflation will continue in the future.
I expect that, so I would like to continue thinking about improving the base and enhancing welfare programs so that employees can work with peace of mind. "
Payment of up to 150,000 yen
In addition, Cybozu, an IT company, has decided to provide a maximum of 150,000 yen from 60,000 yen under the name of "special inflation allowance".
Approximately 1000 people, including full-time employees, contract employees, and part-time employees, are eligible for payment.
The amount of payment is set from 60,000 yen to 150,000 yen depending on the work system, and it will be paid once this summer.
Cybozu President Yoshihisa Aono
"If you are worried about your life, you will not be able to concentrate on your work.
If the momentum for raising wages rises in Japan, you can expect consumption, so I hope it will help revitalize the economy."
Over 2% for 3 consecutive months
The recent rise in prices is behind the move of companies to unprecedented allowances.
The consumer price index for June rose to 2.2% for the 10th consecutive month.
It has exceeded 2% for the third consecutive month, and not only energy prices but also food and daily necessities are rising.
Among items widely used at home,
▽ cooking oil increased by 36% and
▽ flour increased by 15.5%.
Over 3000 students waiting in line for 1 hour to distribute groceries
Rising prices are having an impact on students' lives.
At the Setagaya Campus of Komazawa University in Tokyo, free groceries were distributed to students for three days from the 20th to the 22nd of this month before the summer vacation.
This is an initiative to support students who are worried about their income, such as the fact that the burden of living expenses is increasing due to high prices and that the spread of infection with the new corona does not allow them to shift part-time jobs as they wish.
When I headed for the interview, groceries provided by manufacturers and others were lined up in the auditorium on campus.
The line of students waits for an hour.
It was distributed one after another during the time before and after the lunch break, and it was seen that groceries were packed in a plastic bag.
A total of 90,000 meals were prepared, including 9000 packed rice meals, 3000 soup meals, and 3000 pasta meals.
About 3,000 students visited the grocery distribution in three days.
I talked to a female college student who lives alone, but in order to save on living expenses, she basically cooked her own meals and didn't even use the school cafeteria on campus.
On the 21st of the interview, the lunch I was eating with my friend was one rice ball that I grabbed myself, and recently it is increasing that I only need two meals a day.
Third grade student who received the distribution
"The burden of food expenses is the largest in living alone. I work part-time at a supermarket, but the part-time job fee is not rising, so choose the cheapest ingredients as much as possible. I will continue to save money. "
A second-year college student who received the groceries
"I was worried about the money because the shift of part-time jobs decreased due to the Korona-ka, so I would appreciate it if you could provide a lot."
Concerns about delayed economic recovery if salaries do not rise
Experts point out that price increases are expected to continue, especially in food products.
Mizuho Research & Research Institute, Chief Economist Sakai
"From the perspective of households, the rise in prices outweighs the growth in wages, which has reduced real income.
Especially low-income households spend their daily necessities on their income .
Due to the high proportion, the impact of the price increase is large, and our estimation shows that there will be an increase in the burden equivalent to raising the consumption tax rate by 3%. "
Therefore, treatment allowance is required, but the reality is that the future is not bright.
Mizuho Research & Research Institute, Chief Economist Sakai
"I hope that movements such as inflation allowances will spread in the future, but considering the economic environment in Japan, which is facing a slowdown in overseas economies due to the re-expansion of infections, Japan as a whole Unfortunately, it is hard to think that it will spread to Japan.
If inflation is not accompanied by sufficient wage increases, it may lead to a decline in personal consumption, and there is a risk that economic recovery will be delayed. "
In response to the gradual rise in prices, a new action called "inflation allowance" has begun to appear.
In Japan, which has been under deflation for a long time, I would like to continue to cover how to overcome the rise in prices.
Reporter of the Ministry of Economic Affairs
Daisuke Nogami Joined the Bureau in
2010 In
charge of macroeconomics
Asami Terada ,
Reporter, Ministry of Economic Affairs
Joined in 2009
Responsible for distribution and prices
Reporter of the Ministry of Economic Affairs
Isao Watanabe
Joined in 2012 In
charge of the field of economic security
Matsuyama Bureau Reporter
Mako Kawasaki
Joined in 2017
Responsible for regional economy