UK Total Pay Growth Eases

Total average weekly earnings in the UK, including bonuses, increased 4.2% year-on-year to GBP 735 in the three months to December 2025, falling short of market estimates and slowing from a marginally revised 4.6% rise in the previous period. It marked the softest rise since the three months to August 2024, as private sector wage growth eased to 3.5% from 3.8%, marking the weakest pace since early 2021. Also, public sector pay gains moderated to 7.0%, the lowest since July-September 2025, following a 7.8% rise. Adjusted for inflation, total earnings increased 0.5% in the three months to December, slowing from a 0.7% gain in the previous period and pointing to the lowest level since the three months to June 2023.

Total average weekly earnings in the UK, including bonuses, increased 4.7% year-on-year to GBP 741 in the three months to November 2025, following a marginally revised 4.8% in the previous period but surpassing market expectations of 4.6%. It marked the softest rise since the three months to August 2024, as private sector wage growth eased to 3.9% from 4.1%, marking the weakest pace since early 2021. In contrast, public sector pay gains edged higher to 7.8%, the highest since July–September 2023, following a 7.7% rise. Adjusted for inflation, total earnings increased 0.8% in the three months to November, the same pace as in the prior period.

Total average weekly earnings in the UK, including bonuses, increased 4.7% year-on-year to GBP 739 in the three months to October 2025, slowing from a marginally revised 4.9% in the previous period but topping market expectations of 4.4%. Private sector wage growth fell to 4.0% from 4.4%, marking the weakest pace since December 2020–February 2021. In contrast, public sector pay gains accelerated to 7.7%, the highest since July–September 2023, following a 6.8% rise. Adjusted for inflation, total earnings increased 0.6%, down from 0.7% in the prior quarter, marking the lowest figure since May-July 2025.