Heightening inflationary pressures have pushed take-home pay into negative territory for the first time in six years, despite pay raises, the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) said yesterday. The average monthly take-home wage in April gained 2.7 percent from a year earlier to NT$44,353 (US$1,499), while total wages — including overtime and performance-based compensation — grew 2.66 percent to NT$51,492, the DGBAS said. The wage gains were the result of general pay increases in the public and private sectors, reflecting their improved earnings abilities, it said. However, inflation picked up more quickly, causing a 0.23 percent retreat in take-home pay in