Salaried workers' families reported an average balance of 13.93 million yen in savings per household at the end of 1999, up 3 percent from the previous year, with the amount of money invested in stocks showing a substantial increase, an annual government survey released Tuesday showed.

Of the total savings, 760,000 yen was in stocks, up 49.5 percent and registering a year-on-year rise for the first time in six years, according to the Management and Coordination Agency.

With other instruments included, these households had 1.36 million yen in savings in the form of securities, up 23.9 percent.

In contrast, time deposits attracted 5.94 million yen, down 1.3 percent. Of this figure, postal savings accounted for 2.29 million yen, down 3.5 percent.

"It appears that rebounding stock prices helped increase investments in stocks, while bank deposits and postal savings declined because of low interest rates and home purchases," an agency official said.

A closer look at the data shows the overall average was lifted in 1999 as a result of a concentrated group of households with high savings.

Of the total number of households surveyed, 66.8 percent had fewer savings than the average of 13.93 million yen. The median was 9.01 million yen.

In terms of debts, salaried workers' households held an average of 6.33 million yen, up 10.2 percent. Among holders of mortgages, the balance of loans to purchase homes and land increased 2.2 percent to 14.86 million yen.

Among salaried workers' families living in rented housing, roughly one of five, or 19.1 percent, said they have plans to purchase real estate, the highest level marked since 1988 when the rate stood at 20.7 percent.