WEEKLY KAGOSHIMA on the Web

More local businesses offer raise in winter bonuses
On November 29, Kagoshima Bank released the result of a questionnaire it conducted on major companies in the prefecture regarding the payment of winter bonuses. According to the survey, among those that were planning to offer the special allowance, 24 percent answered the amount will increase from the previous year, which was an improvement of 8 points compared to the last winter. Meanwhile, 67 percent of them-- same level as last year-- said the amount will remain the same as a year earlier, and 9 percent said they will pay the less amount, which was down 8 points from last year.
There have been an increase in public works and the last-minute housing demand before the consumption tax hike in April next year, among other factors, leading to the improvement in such businesses as construction and retailing industries. As for the rate of increase in the seasonal cash benefit, 34 percent of the surveyed answered "1 to 3 percent," which was followed by "10 percent or more" (32 percent) and "3 to less than 5 percent" (15 percent).
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＜タイトル＞
冬のボーナスを増やす地元企業が増加
＜第１パラグラフ＞
Released ~ questionnaire：アンケート結果を公表した　　　regarding...：・・・に関して　　　According to...：・・・によると　　　the special allowance：特別手当（冬のボーナスのこと）　　　the ~ year：前年　　　compared to...：・・・と比較して　　　Meanwhile：一方で　　　(will) remain ~ same：同じままである　　　a ~ earlier：前年
＜第２パラグラフ＞
The ~ demand：駆け込みの住宅需要　　　among ~ factors：いくつかの要因の中で　　　leading to...：（前述の結果として）・・・をもたらした　　　As for...：・・・に関しては　　　the ~ benefit：季節現金給付（冬のボーナスのこと）　　　(was) followed by...：・・・が続いた