Wages' evolution in 1976 - Workers' earnings per week increased on an average of 14,0% between October 1975 and October 1976, which means a progression of 3,7 % of the purchasing power since consumers' prices increased in 9,9 %. The increases granted to non-manual workers were not as high as those granted to workmen; the result was a tightening of the hierarchical scale. SMIC (growth minimum wage) increased in 16,0 % over one-year period (i.e. December 1975 to December 1976) and the number of wage-earners paid more or less according to SMIC decreased slightly. Pays in public offices increased in 10,9 % for a twelve-month period. At longer term, from October 1972 to April 1976, private sector's remunerations and public offices' pays have inc...