The government claims wages are growing 70 per cent faster under it than under its predecessor. The opposition claims the average wage fell by 1,163 denars in June. Both are derived from the same data from the State Statistical Office.

Somebody, then, picked their number.

The calculation nobody disputes

Instead of taking either side's word for it, it is worth looking at the monthly rate of growth - the metric that does not depend on which period you choose as your starting point.

In June 2017 the average net wage was 22,808 denars. By May 2024 it had reached 41,252 denars. That is growth of 80.87 per cent over seven years, or around 0.72 per cent a month.

In July 2024 the wage stood at 40,961 denars. In June 2026 - 48,381 denars. Growth of 18.11 per cent over two years, or around 0.73 per cent a month.

Nought point seven two against nought point seven three. The difference is a hundredth of a per cent a month. The gap in nominal amounts comes mainly from the higher starting base, inflation adjustments and minimum-wage increases - not from any new dynamic.

Both governments, in other words, are moving the wage at almost identical speed. The claim of "70 per cent faster growth" falls apart the moment you look at it monthly rather than cumulatively.

The plane

On the same day, SDSM attacked the government over the announcement of a new government aircraft. The party cites a statement by intelligence agency director Ivica Tomovski that the idea has not been withdrawn and the funds have been left in place.

"For this government, a 'serious' state is not measured by workers' wages, by full fridges, by a functioning health system, by safe water. It is measured by a new plane for Mickoski," SDSM said.

Their list of things that can apparently wait is specific: five weeks without water in Gostivar, a minimum wage below 600 euros, a consumer basket of around 70,000 denars, fuel prices, farm purchase prices. "Everything can wait, only the plane cannot," the statement reads.

SDSM also claims foreign investment has fallen by more than 60 per cent over the past two years.

What is left

The opposition's reaction is political and predictable - that is its job. But the plane is not the reason the wage grows by 0.73 per cent a month instead of 1.5.

The gap between two governments moving the same number at the same pace while claiming opposite things is not resolved by another press release. It is resolved by publishing the calculation - and that is exactly what neither side has attached.