The average monthly salary in the Moldovan economy over the first nine months of this year rose to 1,994 lei, by 22% compared with the corresponding period last year. The average salary increased by 9% in real terms. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the average salary in the budgetary sphere was 1,587 lei, while in the real sector of the economy – 2,207 lei. The lowest salaries continue to be paid in agriculture - 996 lei on average or by 27.4% higher than in the first nine months of last year. The highest average salary was paid in the financial-banking sector - 4,367 lei, (+16.1%). In education, the average salary increased by 8.8% to 1,314 lei, while in the healthcare and social assistance sector by 26.2% to 1,634 lei. The average salary in fish breeding was 1,277 lei (+19%); in extractive industry – 3,042 lei (+19.4%); in processing industry – 2,264 lei (+20.5%), in food industry – 2,261 lei (+19.7%); in beverages industry – 1,909 lei (+22.9%); in the energy sector – 3,485 lei (+24.4%); in the construction sector – 2,954 lei (+26.5%); in retail and wholesale trade 1,941 lei (+35%); in the hotel sector – 1,768 lei (+29.8%); in transport and communications – 2,949 lei (+18.8%); in real estate transactions – 2,500 lei (+27.7%); in public administration – 2,360 (+14%). The average salary this October was 2,197 lei or by 24% higher on last October. In the budgetary sphere, the average salary was 1.694 lei, while in the real sector – 2,461 lei.