Private sector pay rises drive up UK wage growth

Wage growth continued to rise in the UK, driven by strong pay rises in the private sector, official figures show.

Regular pay increased by 5.6% on average between September and November, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), compared with the same period the year before.

However, private sector earnings growth was stronger at 6%, compared with a rise of 4.1% in the public sector.

Despite a risk of higher wages pushing up inflation, the Bank of England is still expected to cut interest rates next month.