Median pay 7%, inflation stalls

The median pay rise achieved in unionised workplaces in the three months to September was 7%, according to LRD Payline. This figure was for workers on the lowest rate of pay, while most workers got 6.5%. The growth in wages has slowed slightly from its July peak but remains above the government-preferred measure of CPI inflation, which has not moved from 6.7% this month. RPI inflation, the union-preferred measure of price rises, is at 8.9% showing wages are still being squeezed.

The latest official earnings figures also show regular pay (excluding bonuses) went up by 7.6% over the year to August. The AWE measure of wage growth is down slightly on the previous month and remains varied across industrial sectors.