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UK earnings growth slows to 4.1% amid job vacancies down

8/18/2026

31 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Average earnings in the UK, including bonuses, rose 4.1% to June 2026, down from 4.3%.
Public-sector pay increased 6.1% while private-sector pay grew 2.8%.
Job vacancies fell 0.8% to 707,000 in the May-July 2026 period.
Data due Wednesday could show energy-bill spikes lifted inflation to almost 3%.
The Bank of England may raise rates by September, prompting AJ Bell analyst Danni Hewson to warn small businesses about rising costs.

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Story summary

Average earnings in the UK, including bonuses, rose 4.1% to June 2026, down from 4.3%.
Public-sector pay increased 6.1% while private-sector pay grew 2.8%.
Job vacancies fell 0.8% to 707,000 in the May-July 2026 period.
Data due Wednesday could show energy-bill spikes lifted inflation to almost 3%.
The Bank of England may raise rates by September, prompting AJ Bell analyst Danni Hewson to warn small businesses about rising costs.