By Tu Lei (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2007-07-27 10:50

However, the residents questioned the

12 percent figure. 

"I have no idea about income rises," said an employee surnamed Lin, "My salary, in fact, dropped, compared with the increase in commodity prices." His salary is 3,000 yuan. 

The people enjoying rising salaries also feel nothing towards it. 

"In the past, three yuan's meat is enough for one dish, but now I need pay five yuan." said Miss Ma. She said his pay rises were nothing compared to the rising prices of consumer goods, although her salary rose 150 yuan per month.

"The living expenses per day are 10 yuan more, and reach 300 yuan per month, so what would the additional 150 yuan do?" asked another employee surnamed Ma.

Of 1,604 people interviewed, 64 percent said their salary rises could not match the soaring economic development, according to a recent survey conducted by the China Youth Daily.

According to the Shenzhen Statistics Bureau, the average disposable income of residents rose 5 percent year-on-year to 22,600 yuan last year. After deductions for inflation, the actual rise was only 2.7 percent, compared with the 16.6 percent economic growth.

The figure for the first half of this year is slightly better: a rise of 6.4 percent. It is still lower than the 13.2 percent economic growth.

Statistics from the National Development and Reform Commission show massive price hikes in grains, edible oils, housing, public utilities and services last month. Only production material prices dropped in June.

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