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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Further fall in UK unemployment | Further fall in UK unemployment |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Unemployment in the UK fell by 29,000 between September and November to 1.67 million, official figures have shown. | Unemployment in the UK fell by 29,000 between September and November to 1.67 million, official figures have shown. |
| The drop left Britain's jobless rate at 5.5%, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported. | The drop left Britain's jobless rate at 5.5%, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported. |
| The number of people out of work and claiming benefit fell by 5,500 in December to 943,100. | The number of people out of work and claiming benefit fell by 5,500 in December to 943,100. |
| Separately, average earnings increased by a less-than-expected 4.1% in the year to November, despite a tightening labour market. | |
| Analysts had expected average earnings to rise by 4.2% during the period. | Analysts had expected average earnings to rise by 4.2% during the period. |
| Redundancies rise | |
| The latest jobless figures suggest the UK labour market remains in better shape than many had thought. | The latest jobless figures suggest the UK labour market remains in better shape than many had thought. |
| Britain's unemployment rate is lower than that of many of its key competitors, including Germany, France and Spain, but higher than in the US and Ireland. | |
| Some 136,000 workers were made redundant in the latest quarter, a rise of 1,000 from the previous three months, the ONS said. | |
| The Bank of England last week unexpectedly raised UK interest rates to 5.25% - from 5% - in an effort to curb inflation. | The Bank of England last week unexpectedly raised UK interest rates to 5.25% - from 5% - in an effort to curb inflation. |
| However, the ONS revealed on Tuesday that inflation had jumped to an 11-year high of 3% in December, raising the prospect of more interest rate increases. | However, the ONS revealed on Tuesday that inflation had jumped to an 11-year high of 3% in December, raising the prospect of more interest rate increases. |