Inflation Starts To Move Into Wages

Wage settlements began to creep up this month, suggesting inflationary pressures are feeding through to pay packets.

The median level of pay settlements during the first three months of this year was 3.5 per cent, continuing the trend of modest rises at the end of last year, according to Incomes Data Services pay and benefits analysts.

However, pay reviews this month "are resulting in higher increases", IDS says.

Two-thirds of pay settlements in April have been "at or above 4 per cent". More than half of these were negotiated as part of long-term deals, with rises linked to the retail price index, running at 4.1 per cent.

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