Minimum pay boost

Inflation rates slowed in April to levels last seen around a year ago (with RPI at 11.4%) while median pay settlements (bolstered by April increases) rose. They show a mid-point (median) increase of 7% on lowest basic rates and 6% on the standard increase (what most workers got out of these agreements).

In some cases, increases in the statutory National Living Wage influenced deals for the lowest paid (like the Agricultural Wages Board NI) or topped up existing awards (like Morrisons and last year’s Construction Industry Joint Council agreement).

The latest Office for National Statistics figures show average weekly earnings rising at a similar rate, 6.9% on regular pay excluding bonus payments. But a fall in bonus payments depressed the average increase in “total pay” to 4.9%.