Research and analysis

Low Pay Commission Research 2025

These research reports were commissioned by the Low Pay Commission to inform recommendations on minimum wage rates for 2026.

• From: Low Pay Commission
• Published: 2 February 2026
• Last updated: 10 February 2026 — See all updates

Documents

The impact of the NLW on prices - Frontier Economics

PDF, 1.19 MB, 44 pages

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Assessing the impact of the minimum wage on young people - London Economics

PDF, 4.61 MB, 103 pages

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The NLW and Household Incomes - Landman Economics

PDF, 1.34 MB, 164 pages

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Landman Economics Supplementary Data Table

MS Excel Spreadsheet, 28 KB

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The impacts of changes to the NMW, including NLW, on household incomes

PDF, 519 KB, 32 pages

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Impact of NLW Upratings on Businesses using the Decision Maker Panel

PDF, 2.29 MB, 29 pages

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Details

Details

Independent research forms an important part of the Low Pay Commission’s evidence base in making recommendations on the National Minimum Wage. Four of the projects published here were commissioned by the LPC to inform its work in 2025. The fifth one is an interim report, with initial results informing deliberations for 2026. The final report will inform discussions in the autumn of 2026 for the rates in 2027.

• Research by Frontier Economics looks at the National Living Wage and prices. The aim of this research was to explore the impact of National Living Wage increases on inflation.
• Research by London Economics looks at the impact of the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage on young people. The aim of this research was to understand the potential impact of National Living Wage increases on the youth labour market and education participation.
• Research by Landman Economics looks at the National Living Wage and household incomes. The aim of this research was to understand how National Living Wage increases affected household incomes.
• Research by Arnab Bhattacharjee, Eliza da Silva Gomes, Larissa da Silva Marioni, Adrian Pabst and Tibor Szendrei (National Institute of Economic and Social Research) examines the impact of further increases in the NMW and NLW on household incomes and consumption in the UK.
• Research by Paul Mizen (King’s College, London), Philip Bunn and Ivan Yotzov (Bank of England) looks at the National Living Wage and its impact on businesses. The aim of this research is to understand the potential impact of the National Living Wage on wage growth, employment and pricing. This is an interim report. The final report will be published alongside the Low Pay Commission’s 2026 Report.

Published 2 February 2026

Last updated 10 February 2026 + show all updates

1. 10 February 2026

   A new research report from NIESR has been added

2. 2 February 2026

   First published.