Some sectors remain under pressure, fueling wage increases and the risk of inflation.
New York
The perky mood of Lowe’s employees, strapped in their blue and red waistcoats, has continued since the Christmas holidays. On December 2, a generous check fell into the hands of the 300,000 employees of this famous American DIY and interior design chain, with 2,200 stores across the country: 500 dollars for part-time employees, 1,000 for those full-time.
This bonus was the second in three months, after an equivalent bonus paid in September. On the scale of the median annual salary at Lowe’s (33,000 dollars, 30,500 euros), this double boost was all the more appreciated as it was coupled with a timid increase in salaries, starting on December 10, and came at the right time, in the midst of soaring prices across the Atlantic. The bonuses came from an implacable observation: salary increases, between 5 and 7% for blue-collar workers, failed to keep up with inflation reaching 8.6% at its peak (between May 2021 and May 2022). Envelope amount…