THE overall nominal wage index for last September was up 10.2 per cent over the same month in 1991, according to Census and Statistics Department figures released yesterday. The overall real wage index for the month showed a marginal increase of 0.3 per cent over 1991, after discounting for inflation. The figures are in line with analysts' expectations. Nomura Research senior economist Mak Nak-keung said the nominal wage increase meant wages would impose little additional pressure on inflation this year. ''The trend is that wage rise will continue to keep in line with the inflation rate,'' said Mr Mak. ''This is a market consensus.'' Of five sectors measured, the wage rises in the wholesale and retail, import and export, and restaurant and hotel sectors were the smallest, to the surprise of analysts. Its nominal wage index increased by 8.9 per cent compared with analysts' forecast of 10 to 12 per cent. This means a slip of 0.8 per cent in the real wage index. ''I would have expected a bigger wage increase in retailing and wholesaling, which was a thriving sector last year,'' said Mr Mak. He suggested that the import of labour was a reason for the small wage increases in retail, wholesale and restaurant industries. The low wage increase in the bustling trading sector could be attributed to possible low profit margins in the face of the global recession, he said. The personal services sector showed the biggest year-on-year increase, with nominal wage index rising 12.2 per cent. It was closely followed by growth of 12.1 per cent in transport services, 10.3 per cent in manufacturing, and 9.8 per cent in business services. Bank of East Asia head of economic research Benjamin Chan Sau-san said the wage improvement in manufacturing was remarkable. Of the major manufacturing industries, handbag production recorded the greatest wage increase, up 14 per cent. Compared with last March, the September overall nominal wage index rose 5.3 per cent, while the overall real wage index was up 0.5 per cent. Overall real wage indices fell against last March in three sectors: business services dropped 2.8 per cent; wholesale, retail, import and export trades, restaurants and hotels 1.7 per cent; and personal services 0.7 per cent.