New Delhi: India Inc is expected to witness an average eight percent salary increase this year and as much as 50 percent of companies have strong hiring plans for the next three months, a survey by global HR consultancy Mercer says.

The Mercer India Monitor quarterly survey also shows an optimistic sentiment for 2010, with salaries expected to rise by as much as 10.9 percent next year.

"Despite the fact that past year saw slowest growth in a long time, the economy is expected to grow at over six per cent and industry is estimated to see overall average salary hikes at 8 percent for 2009," Mercer's information product solutions business India leader Gangapriya Chakraverti said.