Average income 'up 4 per cent'

The average weekly income has jumped 4 per cent to $610 in the past year, Statistics New Zealand said today.

Government statistician Brian Pink said the rise in the overall average was due to a combination of higher wages and salaries and more people in work.

Men continued to do better than women overall. The average weekly income for men in the three months to June this year was $754 for males and $473 for females.

Over the year, the increase in the number of wage and salary earners was similar for males and females, up 5.2 per cent and 4.5 per cent respectively, Mr Pink said.

For those receiving wage and salary income, the average weekly wage and salary income increased more for females (up 6.7 per cent) than for males (up 0.4 per cent).

The figures were included in the annual New Zealand Income Survey, which is run during the April to June period. The survey provides a snapshot of income statistics on people and households.

The average number of hours worked was unchanged from the same period in 2005.

- NZHERALD STAFF