Global growth in real wages slowed dramatically in 2008 as a result of the economic crisis and is expected to drop even further in 2009 despite signs of a possible economic recovery, according to the ILO's 2009 Update of the Global Wage Report. The report also notes that in 2008 half of the 86 countries for which data is available– including major economies such as the U.S., Russia, Japan and Brazil - have increased minimum wages by more than inflation figures.