UK Total Pay Growth Above Forecasts

Total average weekly earnings in the UK, including bonuses, increased 4.1% year-on-year to GBP 749 in the three months to March 2026, exceeding market estimates of 3.8% and accelerating from a 3.9% increase in the prior period, which had marked the slowest pace since the three months to November 2020. Private sector wage growth quickened to 3.9% from 3.6%, the fastest since late 2025, while public sector pay gains slowed to 4.9%, the lowest since late 2024, after a 5.2% rise previously. Adjusted for inflation, total earnings increased 0.8% over the period, faster than 0.6% gain in the three months to February and marking the strongest growth since late 2025.

Total average weekly earnings in the UK, including bonuses, increased 3.8% year-on-year to GBP 745 in the three months to February 2026, beating market estimates of 3.6% but slowing from a 4.1% increase in the prior period. This marked the slowest growth since the three months to November 2020. Private sector wage growth cooled to 3.5% from 3.7%, while public sector pay gains also moderated to 5.2%, the lowest since early 2025, after a 6.0% rise previously. Adjusted for inflation, total earnings increased 0.4% over the period, easing from the prior 0.7% and marking the softest growth since mid-2023.

Total average weekly earnings in the UK, including bonuses, rose 3.9% year-on-year to GBP 742 in the three months to January 2026, matching market forecasts but easing from a 4.2% increase in the prior period. This marked the slowest growth since the three months to November 2020. Private sector wage growth cooled to 3.5% from 3.8%, remaining at its weakest pace since early 2021, while public sector pay gains also moderated to 5.9%, the lowest since July–September 2025, after a 7.0% rise previously. Adjusted for inflation, total earnings increased 0.5% over the period, unchanged from the prior reading and still the weakest growth since mid-2023.