UK Total Pay Growth Above Expectations

2026-05-19 06:16 By Farida Husna 1 min. read

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.



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UK Total Pay Growth Stays Strong
Total average weekly earnings in the UK, including bonuses, rose 4.1% year-on-year to GBP 753 in the three months to April 2026, matching the upwardly revised increase in the previous period and slightly exceeding market expectations of 4.0%. The pace remained the fastest since the three months to November 2025. Private sector wage growth eased marginally to 4.2% from 4.3%, which had been the strongest since the three months to September 2025. In contrast, public sector pay growth accelerated to 5.2% from 4.9%, rebounding from its weakest pace since late 2024. Adjusted for inflation, total earnings increased 1.2%, up from 1.1% in the three months to March and marking the strongest real wage growth since the three months to April 2025.
2026-06-18
UK Total Pay Growth Above Expectations
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.
2026-05-19
UK Total Pay Growth Above Forecasts
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.
2026-04-21