Over the past year, prices of everyday items in Taiwan have steadily risen. Now, people are beginning to find their salaries aren’t stretching quite as far as they used to.
Video script:
The lunchtime rush has customers lining up at the buffet line — but they might be in for a shock once they get to the checkout counter. Prices have been on the rise since March this year, racking up a 3% increase.
People say they're worried that they won't have enough money for food, rent, tuition and other expenses at these new rates.
Reports show that during the first half of this year, the average worker's salary was around NTD$44,000 (US$1,500). That's about a 3% increase from last year. But inflation has caused commodity prices to rise 0.11% more than the average salary.
A spokesperson for a popular job search site says when it comes to getting a higher salary, holding a higher degree doesn't necessarily pay off. Instead, she says that companies use key performance indicators to determine which employees deserve the bigger bonus.
Inflation is affecting the prices of clothes, food, housing and more. To keep up with these changes, people may need to readjust their budgets to stay afloat.