Britons have been handed their first pay rise since the start of 2017 as a year-long squeeze on real incomes, constraining economic growth, comes to an end, data released this week is expected to reveal. Figures out on Tuesday are expected to show that average wages in February climbed 3% on a year earlier, well above the inflation rate of 2.7% for the same month — the first time pay growth has outpaced the rise in consumer prices since January last year. Separate Office for National Statistics figures on Wednesday are expected to show a further decline in inflation to 2.6% in March, according to City forecasts. The return of real-terms pay growth is welcome relief to households after a burst of inflation over the…

Source: The Times April 14, 2018 23:03 UTC