Total average weekly earnings in the UK, including bonuses, rose 4.3% year-on-year to GBP 749 in the three months to May 2026, slowing from 4.4% in the previous two periods and falling short of market estimates of 4.5%. The increase marked the slowest pace since the three months to February, with private sector wage growth slowing to 4.0% from 4.2%. Meanwhile, public sector pay growth accelerated to 5.5% from 5.2%, the strongest increase since the three months to January. After adjusting for inflation, total earnings rose 1.1%, slightly below the 1.2% increase in the three months to April.