The impressive income growth figures publicised by the Chiayi City Government have been challenged by a city council candidate, who says ordinary households have in reality seen almost no improvement in their finances.

• The city government cited the official Family Income and Expenditure Survey, saying average disposable income per person grew 8.86%, and credited economic growth driven by tourism and the restaurant sector.
• But the same survey shows that disposable income per household rose by only NT$486 over the year, or about NT$40 a month.
• The main reason the figures look good is that households have become smaller: the average household shrank from 2.84 to 2.61 people, so dividing total income among fewer people naturally pushes the per capita figure up.
• Over the same period, national prices rose 1.66% while household income grew just 0.04%, meaning real purchasing power fell rather than rose.
• The candidate has called on the city government to additionally release employment and wage figures for tourism and other industries, to make clear who is actually benefiting.

Outlook: With the election approaching and the city government responding only by thanking residents, this dispute over how to read the data is expected to keep simmering.