UK regular pay, excluding bonuses, rose 3.7% year-on-year to GBP 707 per week in the three months to August 2026, slightly accelerating from the previous reading and exceeding market expectations of 3.6%. This marked the strongest annual growth since the three months to January, as private sector wage growth edged up to 3.0% from 2.9% in the previous three-month period, its fastest pace since the three months to April. Meanwhile, public sector pay growth held steady at 6.3% for a second consecutive period, remaining at its highest rate since the three months to December 2025. By industry, wage growth reached 3.1% in wholesale, retail, hotels and restaurants; 2.9% in manufacturing; 3.9% in services; 3.3% in finance and business services; and 1.1% in construction. After adjusting for inflation, real regular pay grew 0.6%, unchanged for a third consecutive period and remaining at its strongest pace since the three months to November 2025.