PAYstats Pay and Labour Market Statistics, February 2026

Latest pay and labour market statistics February 2026:

• The Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH) rose by 3.2% in the 12 months to January 2026, down from 3.6% in the 12 months to December 2025.
• The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rose by 3.0% in the 12 months to January 2026, down from 3.4% in the 12 months to December 2025.
• The UK employment rate based on the LFS for people aged 16 to 64 years was estimated at 75.0% in October to December 2025.
• The UK unemployment rate for people aged 16 years and over was estimated at 5.2% in October to December 2025.
• The estimated number of vacancies in the UK has remained broadly flat across recent periods. Early estimates in November 2025 to January 2026 suggest a small increase of 2,000 (0.3%), to 726,000.
• Annual growth in employees' average regular earnings excluding bonuses in Great Britain was 3.9% in the 12 months to December 2025, and annual growth in total earnings including bonuses was 3.0%.