Pay deals edge up again to 3.4%

The end of the payround saw the three-monthly median from the Labour Research Department Payline database of collective agreements at 3.4%, up from the 3.2% to June

For the payround as a whole (August 2002 to July 2003) the median was 3.1%. The key developments in the annual pay round are explored in detail on pages 15-23.

The private sector median in the three months to July was 3.5% while the public sector figure was 3.3%.

Manual workers saw a median of 3.5% while for non-manuals it was 3.3%.

The median in manufacturing was 3.1% whilst for services it was 3.6%.

Figures from Industrial Relations Services show a three-monthly median for the whole economy to July of 3.0%.

Incomes Data Services have a median for the second quarter of 2003 of 3.1%.

The latest inflation figures (for the year to July) show that the all items RPI rose by 3.1%, up from the 2.9% increase in the year to June.

The RPIX figure (excluding mortgage interest payments) rose by 2.9%, up slightly from the 2.8% increase in the year to June.

Average earnings rose by 3.3% in the year to June, up from the revised figure of 3.2% for May.

However, the headline earnings figure (three month average) fell to 3.1% from the 3.5% increase in the year to May.