Like yesterday’s inflation figure, the UK’s December unemployment data has also –slightly– surprised on the upside, coming in lower than expected.
* U.K. JOBLESS CLAIMS ROSE 77,900 IN DECEMBER; FORECAST 81,000
*U.K. AVERAGE EARNINGS GROWTH LESS BONUSES UNCHANGED AT 3.6%
*U.K. UNEMPLOYMENT RATE ROSE TO 3.6% FROM 3.3% IN NOVEMBER
*U.K. NOVEMBER JOBLESS CLAIMS REVISED UP BY 7,400 TO 83,100
Of course, the figures are still pretty dire by historical standards — it’s the biggest monthly increase in the unemployment rate since 1991, according to Bloomberg, and the highest number of jobless people (at 1.16m) since January 2000.
Related links:
Inflation’s upside surprise – FT Alphaville
Dole blackspots – FT graphic
