If we measure inflation by the RPI, real pay is still falling
If we measure inflation by the Retail Price Index – far more commonly used than CPI in pay bargaining – real pay is still falling, writes Richard Exell.
Richard Exell
Website Richard writes for Left Foot Forward on labour markets; he is the TUC’s senior policy officer, covering social security, tax credits and labour market issues - including the debates about the European social model and labour market flexibility.
Despite welcome news on unemployment, pay and productivity are stagnating
Despite today’s welcome news on falling unemployment, pay and productivity are stagnating.
Today’s good employment news only deserves one-and-a-half cheers
There are more jobs, but the pay is lower, your chances of being underemployed are higher, your risk of losing your job is higher, and if you do become unemployed your chances of getting a job are lower.
The real economy: low pay, low productivity, low exports and low investment
Today’s labour market statistics continue the story of recent months: rising employment and stagnating earnings.
Yes, the mega-rich did postpone their bonuses to avoid 50p tax
This month’s labour market statistics continue the same pattern we have seen in recent months: small improvements in overall employment and unemployment but youth unemployment and long-term unemployment not going anywhere much.
The employment figures can’t hide the fact that Britain needs a pay rise
Today’s employment figures include a couple of headlines the government will be grateful for and what seems like an improvement on the pay front. But when you look at the labour market from a slightly longer perspective, the picture is less brilliant.
Has stagnation caught up with the labour market?
Today’s figures (covering November to January) have people wondering if the labour market may be running out of road. The key figure in today’s release is for pay. Average weekly earnings for regular pay (3 month average) in January were just 1.2 per cent higher than they had been a year earlier – the fifth successive fall in the annual rate of increase.
Today’s labour market figures are good, but it is possible to claim too much for them
Any government would be pleased with today’s labour market figures, but it is possible to claim too much for them, writes Richard Exell.
The labour market in 2013 – what’s in store?
Richard Exell looks at what the labour market has in store for 2013.
Today’s jobs stats are good, but there’s still a great deal of ground to make up
Richard Exell analyses the latest labour market statistics.