The contracting parties must be warned of the risk they run in the event of rate increases. According to the latest surveys of banks, there is a moderate recovery in loan demand on the part of firms. Those engaged in technological upgrading and internationalization merit greater attention.
In terms of wages, the year-on-year rate of decline in nominal wages per employee has slowed recently to minus 0.1 percent due to an improvement in the number of unscheduled hours worked and in bonus payments. It will be necessary to make sure that such improvements in employment and wages continue into the future, thereby supporting an increase in private consumption.