UK rent inflation by nation/region versus 3.6% regular-pay growth, February 2026.
UK rent versus wages is measured by comparing private-rent inflation with regular-pay growth. The data shows UK rent inflation of 3.5% against 3.6% regular-pay growth, with country rows for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Wales shows the clearest rent-above-wage gap, with 5.5% rent inflation versus the 3.6% wage benchmark. The wage benchmark is for Great Britain employees, while rent inflation is selected by UK country or aggregate region.
Source 1: Office for National Statistics
Publisher: Office for National Statistics
Dataset/table: Price Index of Private Rents and UK House Price Index
Units: Percent and pounds
Date checked: 2026-05-17
Evidence: Reports UK and country private-rent annual inflation for February 2026.
Source 2: Office for National Statistics
Publisher: Office for National Statistics
Dataset/table: Average weekly earnings headline estimates
Units: Percent and pounds
Date checked: 2026-05-17
Evidence: Reports regular-pay annual growth of 3.6% for December 2025 to February 2026.
Regular-pay growth is for Great Britain employees and is used as a wage benchmark; rent inflation is by UK country or UK aggregate. Northern Ireland rent data are to December 2025.
Use ONS private-rent annual inflation for February 2026 and ONS regular earnings growth for December 2025 to February 2026. Gap equals rent inflation minus 3.6% regular-pay growth.
Both inputs are ONS releases, but the rent geography and earnings geography are not identical and the periods differ slightly.
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