Report 02 · Monthly
Real Pay Tracker
+2.7%real-terms rise in typical full-time weekly pay in the year to April 2026 — after inflation. Pay is growing faster than prices.
ONS ASHE, April 2026 (provisional) · CPI to September 2026
Pay growth vs. prices
Annual % change
Pay growth (weekly, full-time)
5.8%
CPI inflation (Sep 2026)
3.5%
Real pay growth (CPIH-adjusted)
2.7%
TL;DRPay grew faster than prices this year, so on average people are a little better off.
Key findings
£811median full-time weekly pay in April 2026, up from £766.60 a year earlier.ONS ASHE 2026
£12.71National Living Wage an hour from April 2026, up 4.1%. The 18–20 rate rose 8.5% to £10.85.GOV.UK
3.5%CPI inflation in the 12 months to September 2026.ONS
TL;DRIf your own pay rise was under 3.5%, prices grew faster than your pay did.
Your 5-minute move
Check your payslip
Look at the tax code on your latest payslip. 1257L is the usual one — a wrong code can mean money back.
Receipts · checked 9 November 2026
- ONS — Employee earnings in the UK: 2026 — published 22 October 2026
- ONS — Consumer price inflation: September 2026 — published 21 October 2026
- GOV.UK — National Living Wage increases to £12.71 per hour — from 1 April 2026