1. Introduction

This article presents 2 analyses of the average weekly earnings (AWE) figures, which are published in the UK Labour Market statistical bulletin. We will update these analyses every month. The first section describes real AWE, which is AWE deflated by the Consumer Prices Index. The second section analyses single month movements in the nominal AWE.

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2. Real AWE

The figures show the recent movements in real AWE (whole economy). This is calculated as nominal unadjusted AWE, divided by the Consumer Prices Index (CPI). This series is calculated for regular and total pay at the whole economy level and then seasonally adjusted. The data in Figures 1 and 2 are levels of real and nominal AWE, shown on a monthly basis, with an index of 2000 equals 100. Figure 3 shows 3 months on 3 months previous year increases in these derived indices. The data are available in dataset EARN01, together with estimates of real AWE at 2000 prices.

Comparing the 3 months to December 2016 with the same period in 2015, real AWE (total pay) grew by 1.4%, which was 0.5 percentage points smaller than the growth seen in the 3 months to November. Nominal AWE (total pay) grew by 2.6% in the 3 months to December 2016, while the CPI increased by 1.6% in the year to December. Over the same 3 month period, real AWE (regular pay) grew by 1.4%, which was 0.3 percentage points smaller than the growth seen in the 3 months to November. The nominal AWE (regular pay) rose by 2.6% in the 3 months to December.

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3. Contributions to nominal AWE – single month

The wages and employment contributions underlying the latest AWE data are available on our website in the EARN02 dataset each month. The “employment contribution”, shown in these figures, changes if the relative proportion of employment in the 24 industrial headings changes, but will not necessarily change if total employment increases. Employment contributions were significantly negative in 2009 and 2010, largely caused by a shift away from employment in financial and insurance activities, which are relatively highly paid industries.

Figures 4 and 5 summarise the recent figures.

Employment contributions were 0.1% for both total pay and regular pay in December 2016.

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Contact details for this Article

James Scruton
earnings@ons.gov.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)1633 456724