PRICES AND WAGES

In August consumer-price inflation slowed to 3.0% in Britain, quickened to 1.8% in France and remained at 3.6% in Spain. Producer prices in Japan rose by 0.2% in the 12 months to August, after five consecutive months of decline. British workers received a pay rise of 3.9%, the lowest since June 1997, in the 12 months to July, a real increase of 0.6%.