Forward to a colleague View as a webpage Add us to your white list Quick Links »   Pay bargaining   IRS research   Pay awards   XpertHR news   Reference   Blog Pay bargaining trends Retail pay 2010: awards sink but industry remains upbeat Against a backdrop of economic uncertainty and patchy consumer confidence, retail pay deals have been depressed despite an upsurge in headline inflation. Nevertheless, our latest review of bargaining trends in a sector badly hit by the recession sees some positive signs emerging. Pay trends August 2010: awards remain at 1% but signs of a thaw emerge Our provisional analysis of pay awards in the three months to the end of July 2010 finds that the headline measure remains stable at 1%. The proportion of pay freezes has dipped this month, however, and the upper quartile of deals has moved up very slightly from 2% to 2.3%. Inflation and earnings forecasts Our forecasts page is updated every fortnight and provides an up-to-date look at the likely bargaining conditions for pay setters over the coming months. Top Take part in IRS research What are the prospects for pay in 2011? Since the start of 2009 we have seen pay awards plummet and pay freezes increase as the recession hit pay hard. Pay awards remain low, with the outlook for the coming 12 months highly uncertain. Will the spike in headline inflation push up pay awards in 2011? Or will a weak labour market and public sector cuts keep pay rises low? We need to hear your plans on pay so that we can provide an authoritative analysis of employers' pay intentions over the coming year. In return for completing the survey, you will receive a comprehensive report including: a sector-by-sector analysis of pay trends; a review of recent pay trends; and our survey findings on employer pay predictions for the year ahead, covering their pay award predictions and the issues that will dominate pay setting. You will also be entered into a prize draw to win a £75 M&S voucher. Please click here to complete the confidential survey. If you would like to discuss it or have any questions please email Sarah Welfare. Top Pay awards › Pay review update: details of recent pay awards › Building craftworkers and operatives › XpertHR indicators: pay awards Top News and advice from XpertHR › New model policy on bonus payments › Pensions scheme trustees' duty to assess employers' support › Labour market still fragile as public sector cuts yet to bite, experts warn › Weekly dilemma: Changing terms and conditions Top Cases, statistics and reference › XpertHR pay trends homepage › Forecasts › Consultation on fair pay in the public sector › Will statutory maternity pay be extended? › Economic indicators › Statutory rates Top From the Employment Intelligence blog › Default retirement age: unintended consequences for employee benefits › Weak earnings growth completes picture of lacklustre labour market › Unemployment: headline rate falls to 7.8% Top Editor's message RETAIL PAY Retail sector pay rises have been hit hard by the recession but have fared marginally better than those across the whole economy, our review of settlements finds. The median basic pay award for the sector stood at 1.2% over the 12 months to May 2010, down from 3% the previous year but slightly higher than the 1% figure for the whole economy over the same period. Speaking to key stakeholders in the sector, review author Janet Egan reveals that the British Retail Consortium is concerned about the impact of the forthcoming rise in the national minimum wage on 1 October 2010, while trade union Usdaw says that settlements in food retailing have been better than non-food retailers, which have been finding business conditions tough. We also bring you the latest pay settlement data for the whole economy, which shows that basic pay awards were worth a median 1% in the three months to the end of July 2010. There are some signs of a slight thaw in wage deals, with the proportion of pay freezes down to 26% from 38% in the previous rolling quarter. But the overall picture of weak pay pressures remains unchanged. Today we launch our pay prospects survey, which will establish the pay outlook for the coming year. Please take a few minutes to complete our survey and receive a comprehensive report by sector on the past year's pay trends and the future outlook. Sarah Welfare Pay and benefits editor, XpertHR NEW! Find the right place to advertise your job vacancy. Research and compare thousands of regional, trade magazines, job sites and the national press. Save time and money on recruitment advertising. Get more out of XpertHR › Model policies › Good practice guides › Line manager briefings › Salary surveys Tools for subscribers › My XpertHR › User guide › Advanced search › XpertHR feeds Customer services › Password reminder › Email the helpdesk or call 0845 671 1110 › Read previous newsletters Forward to a colleague xperthr.co.uk This email has been sent to luke.smith@rbi.co.uk Unsubscribe from future pay and benefits emails. 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