71.   The report reignited worries that rising corporate wage costs and consumer spending power would accelerate inflation, which reduces the value of such fixed-income investments as bonds.

72.   This will make wage costs of U.S. and European multinational corporations in Singapore higher in their own currencies.

73.   Today, labor-intensive light manufacturing and processing of semifinished goods dominate the market as local businesses capitalize on the lowest wage costs in central Europe.

74.   Using other measures, including a control on wage costs, Germany is seeking to halve its unemployment by the end of the century, he said.

75.   He noted that in addition to high productivity levels, companies in a fiercely competiive market have shown reluctance to pass on wage costs to consumers.

76.   In particular, they noted, companies in an intensely competitive atmosphere have shown reluctance to pass on wage costs to consumers.

77.   Investors were waiting for the publication of data for retail sales and unemployment in June, and average earnings and unit wage costs in May.

78.   About a third of the companies increased export sales, a third had higher wage costs and nearly half suffered higher raw material costs.

79.   Complaints about high wage costs were only partially justified, and were mainly motivated by political considerations, Ifo said.

80.   The report said that moderation of wage costs had contributed to disinflation.