The annual growth in UK employees’ average regular earnings (excluding bonuses) was 4.7% in June to August 2025, slightly down from 4.8% in the previous three months and in line with market expectations. This marked the weakest regular pay growth since March to May 2022, as private sector pay growth slowed to 4.4% from 4.7%, the lowest level since late 2021. In contrast, public sector wages accelerated to 6.0% from 5.6%, partly due to some pay rises being paid earlier in 2025 than in 2024, creating a base effect. By industry, after the public sector, wholesaling, retailing, and hospitality showed the strongest regular pay growth at 5.9%, while finance and business services recorded the weakest at 2.9%. Inflation-adjusted growth slowed to 0.6%, down from 0.7%, marking the weakest real wage growth since 2023.