BUSINESS LIVE: UK wages up 5.9%; De La Rue agrees £263m takeover; Sports Direct to launch in Australia

On Apr 15, 2025

By LIVE COMMENTARY

Updated: 07:37, 15 April 2025

Weekly UK wages before bonuses grew by 5.9 per cent in the three months to February, slightly behind forecasts of 6 per cent growth, fresh data from the Office for National Statistics shows.

The Bank of England has been keeping a close eye on wage growth and the impact on total inflation as it considers the outlook for interest rates.

The FTSE 100 will open at 8am. Among the companies with reports and trading updates today are De La Rue, Frasers, B&M and Halfords Group. Read the Tuesday 15 April Business Live blog below.

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UK wages up 5.9% as employment dips

Weekly UK wages before bonuses grew by 5.9 per cent in the three months to February, slightly behind forecasts of 6 per cent growth, fresh data from the Office for National Statistics shows.

The Bank of England has been keeping a close eye on wage growth and the impact on total inflation as it considers the outlook for interest rates.

Separate ONS data showed an easing of the UK labour market, with the number of vacancies falling below their pre-COVID pandemic level for the first time since the three months to May 2021 in the three months to March.

Provisional data given by employers to the tax authorities showed the number of employees fell by 78,000 in March and February’s figure was revised to show a drop of 8,000 compared with a previous estimate of a 21,000 gain.

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