Economy and work
Inflation, growth, pay and jobs, from the Office for National Statistics. These are the numbers behind the headlines, with the full history rather than the latest month on its own.
CPI inflation
How much prices rose over the last 12 months. This is the headline inflation figure, and the measure the Bank of England's 2% target refers to.
Figure for Aug 2026
Updated 15 Sep 2026. Next expected 21 Oct 2026
Source: Office for National Statistics, Open Government Licence v3.0
RPI inflation
The older inflation measure, still used for some rail fares and student loans. It has the longest history on the site, back to 1948.
Figure for Aug 2026
Updated 15 Sep 2026. Next expected 21 Oct 2026
Source: Office for National Statistics, Open Government Licence v3.0
Food inflation
The change in food and non-alcoholic drink prices over the last 12 months. It often moves quite differently from the headline rate.
Figure for Aug 2026
Updated 15 Sep 2026. Next expected 21 Oct 2026
Source: Office for National Statistics, Open Government Licence v3.0
The price level
Prices themselves rather than the rate they are changing, with 2015 set to 100. This is what you need to compare what a pound bought in one year with another.
Figure for Aug 2026
Updated 15 Sep 2026. Next expected 21 Oct 2026
Source: Office for National Statistics, Open Government Licence v3.0
CPIH inflation
Inflation including the costs of owning and living in your own home. This is the ONS's own preferred measure.
Figure for Aug 2026
Updated 15 Sep 2026. Next expected 21 Oct 2026
Source: Office for National Statistics, Open Government Licence v3.0
Unemployment rate
The share of people aged 16 and over who are out of work, want a job and are looking for one.
Figure for Jun 2026
Updated 14 Sep 2026. Next expected 20 Oct 2026
Source: Office for National Statistics, Open Government Licence v3.0
Employment rate
The share of people aged 16 to 64 who are in work.
Figure for Jun 2026
Updated 14 Sep 2026. Next expected 20 Oct 2026
Source: Office for National Statistics, Open Government Licence v3.0
Average weekly pay
Average regular pay per week across the whole economy, before tax and excluding bonuses.
Figure for Jul 2026
Updated 14 Sep 2026. Next expected 20 Oct 2026
Source: Office for National Statistics, Open Government Licence v3.0
Average weekly pay, after inflation
The same average weekly pay, adjusted by the ONS for inflation and held in constant prices. Compare it with the cash figure to see whether pay is actually buying more.
Figure for Jul 2026
Updated 14 Sep 2026. Next expected 20 Oct 2026
Source: Office for National Statistics, Open Government Licence v3.0
Pay growth
How much regular pay has changed compared with a year earlier, averaged over three months.
Figure for Jul 2026
Updated 14 Sep 2026. Next expected 20 Oct 2026
Source: Office for National Statistics, Open Government Licence v3.0
The size of the economy
Total UK output, adjusted for inflation so that different years can be compared. Published quarterly, with a history back to 1955.
Figure for Q1 2026
Updated 29 Jun 2026
Source: Office for National Statistics, Open Government Licence v3.0
Economic growth
How much the economy grew or shrank compared with the previous quarter. Two negative quarters in a row is the common definition of a recession.
Figure for Q1 2026
Updated 29 Jun 2026
Source: Office for National Statistics, Open Government Licence v3.0
Economic inactivity
The share of people aged 16 to 64 who are neither working nor looking for work: students, carers, the long-term sick and the retired.
Figure for Jun 2026
Updated 14 Sep 2026. Next expected 20 Oct 2026
Source: Office for National Statistics, Open Government Licence v3.0
Job vacancies
How many unfilled jobs employers are advertising across the UK.
Figure for Jul 2026
Updated 14 Sep 2026. Next expected 20 Oct 2026
Source: Office for National Statistics, Open Government Licence v3.0
Claimant count
How many people are claiming unemployment-related benefits. Rules about who has to claim have changed many times, so this is not a measure of unemployment.
Figure for Aug 2026
Updated 14 Sep 2026. Next expected 20 Oct 2026
Source: Office for National Statistics, Open Government Licence v3.0
Government debt
What the government owes, measured against the size of the economy.
Figure for Jul 2026
Updated 20 Aug 2026
Source: Office for National Statistics, Open Government Licence v3.0
Retail sales
How much people are buying in shops and online, adjusted for inflation. It is an index, so what matters is the direction rather than the number itself.
Figure for Aug 2026
Updated 17 Sep 2026. Next expected 23 Oct 2026
Source: Office for National Statistics, Open Government Licence v3.0
Monthly output
A monthly index of what the economy produces, published as gross value added. It is the earliest read on growth, ahead of the quarterly figures.
Figure for Jul 2026
Updated 10 Sep 2026. Next expected 15 Oct 2026
Source: Office for National Statistics, Open Government Licence v3.0