The UK unemployment rate rose to 4.2% in June, it was revealed today, despite expectations that it would remain at 4%.
But markets are paying closer attension to the latest wage growth figures, which showed salaries rising well beyond expectations at 8.2%, or 7.8% when bonuses are excluded. The Bank of England has already said that salaries are rising too quickly to keep inflation under control even when they were rising at much lower rates.
Another key indicator of inflation has come from market research firm Kantar, which has published the latest figures on supermarket price rises. Grocery inflation fell for the fifth straight month, but remained at an extremely high level at 12.7%.
Legal & General, M&S and 888 were also among the companies publishing updates today.
