Wages fell by 3.2% in real terms in the UK in August, exclusive research by the Reach Data Unit has found. The average person paid via PAYE earned £2,113 in August, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. That’s up from £2,109 in July and £1,984 in August 2021. However, wages have failed to keep up with the rate of inflation.
The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rose by 9.9% in the 12 months to August, the ONS announced this week. While that’s down from 10.1% in July, it still means prices are rising faster than wages. It means that wages have fallen 3.2% in real terms on average, when adjusted for inflation.
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Every worker deserves a decent standard of living. But as the cost-of-living crisis intensifies, millions of families don’t know how they will make ends meet this winter.
“The new prime minister must get pay rising. Boosting the minimum wage and giving public sector workers a decent pay rise would be a good start. And unions should be allowed to go into every workplace to negotiate proper pay rises for all working people.”
