How’s the UK Doing?UK economic statistics, explained
How’s the UK Doing?

Are wages keeping up with prices?

Whether pay is rising faster than prices

0.6%

May to July 2026

Same as April to June 2026

NeutralAverage pay is ahead of prices, but only just.Why this signal?

Where this sits in the last 10 years
10-year low −2.8%10-year high 5.2%
Published
Next update
in 9 days

Recent figures may be revised.

Pay growth after inflation

May to July 2026 · 0.6%, down 0.1 percentage points on a year earlier

Good signNeutralWarning sign

Good signNeutralWarning sign

Good signNeutralWarning sign

Usual range (middle 80% of the last 10 years)

Each year averages March, June, September and December, so overlapping months count once. 2026 so far covers January to June.

Each month is that month's figure, not a total so far. 2026 so far covers January to July.

Source: Office for National Statistics

What this means for people

Above zero, typical pay buys more than a year ago. Below zero, it buys less.

Regular pay leaves bonuses out. The comparison is the latest three months against the same three months a year earlier, then adjusted for rising prices.

It covers employees in Great Britain, not people who are self-employed.

Latest figures

See the figures as a table
PeriodValue
May to July 20260.6%
April to June 20260.6%
March to May 20260.3%
February to April 20260.1%
January to March 20260.1%
December 2025 to February 20260.2%
November 2025 to January 20260.4%
October to December 20250.5%
September to November 20250.6%
August to October 20250.6%
July to September 20250.5%
June to August 20250.6%
Each year averages March, June, September and December, so overlapping months count once.
YearPeriod coveredValue
2026 so farJanuary to June0.4%
2025March, June, September and December0.9%
2024March, June, September and December2.3%
2023March, June, September and December0.3%
2022March, June, September and December−2.2%
2021March, June, September and December2.7%
2020March, June, September and December1.1%
2019March, June, September and December1.8%
2018March, June, September and December0.7%
2017March, June, September and December−0.4%
2016March, June, September and December1.4%
2015March, June, September and December2.0%
Each month
Period2023202420252026 so far
January−2.3%1.8%2.1%0.4%
February−2.2%1.8%2.1%0.2%
March−1.9%1.9%1.8%0.1%
April−1.2%2.2%1.5%0.1%
May−0.6%2.5%1.1%0.3%
June0.1%2.6%0.9%0.6%
July0.6%2.4%0.7%0.6%
August1.1%2.2%0.6%
September1.3%2.1%0.5%
October1.3%2.4%0.6%
November1.5%2.4%0.6%
December1.7%2.4%0.5%

CSVJSON

How to read this

Adjusted for rising prices

Adjusted for rising prices, including housing costs, so it shows what pay can buy. ONS calls this measure CPIH.

An average, not your pay

This is average pay per employee, not a typical pay rise. The mix of jobs can move it even when pay rates do not. Your own pay may have risen by more or less.

Employees in Great Britain only

It covers employees in Great Britain. Self-employed people, the armed forces, government-supported trainees and Northern Ireland are not included. Live in Northern Ireland? SeeNorthern Ireland earnings

Compared with a year earlier

Each figure compares the latest three months with the same three months a year before.

Source

Publisher
Office for National Statistics
Official title
Average weekly earnings, regular pay, adjusted for inflation (CPIH), three-month average growth on a year earlier
Series
A2FA
Geography
Great Britain
Status
Accredited official statistics
Cite this

Office for National Statistics (2026) Average weekly earnings, regular pay, adjusted for inflation (CPIH), three-month average growth on a year earlier, May to July 2026 (series A2FA).