UK Total Pay Growth Eases as Expected

2026-08-18 06:23 By Farida Husna 1 min. read

Total average weekly earnings in the UK, including bonuses, rose 4.1% year-on-year to GBP 755 in the three months to June 2026, slowing from 4.4% in each of the previous three-month periods but matching market expectations.

The latest result marked the softest pace since the three months to February, as private-sector pay growth eased to 3.7% from 4.1%, also the weakest since February.

Meanwhile, public-sector pay growth accelerated sharply to 6.2% from 5.5%, marking its strongest increase since the three months to December 2025.

After adjusting for inflation, total earnings rose 1.1%, slightly below the 1.2% increase recorded in the three months to May and April.



News Stream
UK Total Pay Growth Eases as Expected
Total average weekly earnings in the UK, including bonuses, rose 4.1% year-on-year to GBP 755 in the three months to June 2026, slowing from 4.4% in each of the previous three-month periods but matching market expectations. The latest result marked the softest pace since the three months to February, as private-sector pay growth eased to 3.7% from 4.1%, also the weakest since February. Meanwhile, public-sector pay growth accelerated sharply to 6.2% from 5.5%, marking its strongest increase since the three months to December 2025. After adjusting for inflation, total earnings rose 1.1%, slightly below the 1.2% increase recorded in the three months to May and April.
2026-08-18
UK Total Pay Growth Below Expectations
Total average weekly earnings in the UK, including bonuses, rose 4.3% year-on-year to GBP 749 in the three months to May 2026, slowing from 4.4% in the previous two periods and falling short of market estimates of 4.5%. The increase marked the slowest pace since the three months to February, with private sector wage growth slowing to 4.0% from 4.2%. Meanwhile, public sector pay growth accelerated to 5.5% from 5.2%, the strongest increase since the three months to January. After adjusting for inflation, total earnings rose 1.1%, slightly below the 1.2% increase in the three months to April.
2026-07-21
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