The 2025-26 and 2026-27 pay settlement contained a guarantee that each year of this pay deal will be at least 1 percentage point higher than average CPI inflation over the calendar year. Average inflation in 2025 was confirmed as 3.4% and the headline uplift for 2025-26 was therefore adjusted from 4.25% to 4.4% by NHS Circular PCS(AFC)2026/1.
The table below sets out what the pay award will be in 2026-27 relative to different rates of cumulative CPI inflation over 2026.
The table below tracks average inflation between January and December 2026. It will be updated in a timely manner following each inflation release from the ONS.
*Rounded to one decimal place, consistent with ONS CPI inflation figure.