\nLast year, the average monthly wage of residents of the Volyn region reached 319 hryvnias, the regional statistics department reported. \nCompared to 2002, it increased by 25 percent, but taking into account the rise in prices for goods and services, real earnings grew by only 19 percent. \nThe highest earners were those working in the field of financial intermediation, C 827hryvnias, informatization and public administration C 509-510hryvnias. Among industrial enterprises, the highest wages were recorded in the production of electrical and electronic, transport equipment, in the chemical and petrochemical industry C 516-625hryvnias. \nThe lowest earnings were traditionally in agriculture Ts 132hryvnias, the sphere of individual services and primary general education C 185-205.\nThe highest level of wages was achieved in the regional center and the city of Kovel - 411-433 hryvnias. The least was earned in the Ratniv, Turiisk, Rozhyshche, Volodymyr-Volynskyi districts C 192-199hryvnias. \nDuring the past year, a positive trend toward reducing the amount of wage arrears was maintained. Over the year, the debts decreased by almost a third and as of January 1 of this year amounted to 18 million hryvnias. Half of the arrears falls on industrial enterprises, a fifth part Tson agricultural formations. \n