LONDON, Aug 15 Reuters British wages excluding bonuses were a record 7.8 higher than a year earlier in the three months to June, official figures from showed on Tuesday, adding to worries for the Bank of England about longterm inflation.

The data also showed some fresh signs of cooling in the labour market with the unemployment rate unexpectedly rising to 4.2 from 4.0, the highest since the three months to October 2021, the Office for National Statistics said.

But the increase in basic earnings the strongest in records data back to 2001 represented further impetus for Britain39;s high rate of inflation with many employers resorting to increased pay offers to retain or attract staff.

Annual pay growth including bonuses accelerated to 8.2, the fastest in the ONS data excluding the coronavirus pandemic period when government job subsidies distorted the data.

Sterling rose against the dollar and euro after Tuesday39;s data.

Reporting by Sachin Ravikumar; Editing by William Schomberg

Source Reuters