Average earnings indices (including bonuses)

Earnings index* % annual rise Whole economy Manufacturing Services Private sector Public sector

July 04 (r) 116.4 3.3% 3.8% 2.8% 3.2% 3.7%

Aug (r) 117.3 4.1% 3.3% 4.0% 4.1% 4.5%

Sep (r) 117.8 4.1% 3.0% 4.2% 4.0% 4.5%

Oct 118.3 4.3% 3.4% 4.5% 4.2% 4.8%

Nov 118.8 4.5% 2.9% 4.6% 4.4% 4.7%

Dec 119.1 4.2% 3.7% 4.2% 4.0% 4.4%

Jan 05 120.1 3.9% 3.1% 4.0% 3.8% 4.7%

Feb 120.2 5.6% 3.6% 6.3% 5.9% 4.6%

Mar 120.3 4.0% 3.9% 4.3% 4.0% 4.2%

Apr 120.6 4.2% 3.0% 4.5% 4.0% 4.9%

May 120.8 4.1% 1.9% 4.7% 3.3% 7.7%

June (r) 121.1 4.0% 2.9% 4.3% 3.7% 4.3%

July (r) 121.6 4.5% 3.4% 4.9% 4.6% 4.4%

Aug (r) 122.0 4.0% 4.3% 4.0% 4.0% 4.3%

Sep (p) 122.1 3.7% 4.6% 3.4% 3.6% 3.9%

Headline rate** for Sep 4.1% 4.1% 4.1% 4.0% 4.2%

* Whole economy, 2000=100.

** Average of earnings increases for latest three months compared to year earlier.

(r) revised. (p) provisional.

Source: National Statistics.

Average of average earnings forecasts for 2005 is 4.4% (HM Treasury).

Other pay analysts

Industrial Relations Services (median, three months to end October 2005) 3.0%

Incomes Data Services (median, three months to end October 2005) 3.0%