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Analysts polled by Reuters had expected that real wages, which are adjusted for inflation, would rise 5.2 percent last month.
Average nominal wages earned by Russians rose 7.2 percent year on year to 50,500 roubles ($904.25) in December, the statistics service, or Rosstat, said.
Rosstat also revised November data. It said on Thursday nominal wages rose 8.4 percent and real wages increased 5.8 percent in November compared with a 8.3 percent and 5.4 percent increase, respectively, reported a month ago.
Real disposable income declined 0.1 percent in November, according to the Rosstat latest data, less than a 0.3 percent decline reported earlier.