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| UK jobless total at 2.26 million | UK jobless total at 2.26 million |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| UK unemployment rose to 2.261 million in the three months to April, the highest since November 1996, the Office for National Statistics said. | UK unemployment rose to 2.261 million in the three months to April, the highest since November 1996, the Office for National Statistics said. |
| The jobless rate rose to 7.2%, the highest since July 1997, but still less than expected. | The jobless rate rose to 7.2%, the highest since July 1997, but still less than expected. |
| The number of people claiming unemployment benefit rose by 39,000 in May, less than the 60,000 which had been forecast by analysts. | The number of people claiming unemployment benefit rose by 39,000 in May, less than the 60,000 which had been forecast by analysts. |
| The claimant count rate rose to 4.8%, the highest since November 1997. | The claimant count rate rose to 4.8%, the highest since November 1997. |
| Average earnings rose 0.8%, more than expected, in the three months to April, the ONS said. | Average earnings rose 0.8%, more than expected, in the three months to April, the ONS said. |
| UNEMPLOYMENT: FULL COVERAGE Read our guide on how to cope with unemployment And some handy tips on getting a job in a recession Check out the BBC jobs tracker to find out which companies are hiring and firingSee how unemployment is affecting your region Also read our report on the contrasting fortunes of Oldham - where there are 30 people chasing each vacancy - and Chester where businesses struggle to fill jobs. | UNEMPLOYMENT: FULL COVERAGE Read our guide on how to cope with unemployment And some handy tips on getting a job in a recession Check out the BBC jobs tracker to find out which companies are hiring and firingSee how unemployment is affecting your region Also read our report on the contrasting fortunes of Oldham - where there are 30 people chasing each vacancy - and Chester where businesses struggle to fill jobs. |
| This reflects the timing of bonus payments in the financial services sector, it said. | This reflects the timing of bonus payments in the financial services sector, it said. |
| The number of people in work fell by 271,000 over the three months to 29.11 million, the biggest quarterly drop since comparable records began in 1971. | The number of people in work fell by 271,000 over the three months to 29.11 million, the biggest quarterly drop since comparable records began in 1971. |
| Green shoots? | |
| Analysts welcomed the data, but said it was too early to hail it as a turning point in the recession. | |
| David Kern, chief economist at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "These jobless figures are slightly better than feared, but the overall situation remains grim... It is much too early to talk about the end of recession and it is important not to withdraw the policy stimulus before there is firmer evidence that the economy has stabilised." | |
| "We are certainly moving in the right direction and this is one of a number of very encouraging signals that we have seen," said Alan Clarke, UK economist at BNP Paribas. | |
| However, he added: "The economy may actually start to expand, but it won't be very fast... and until the economy is growing in line with its long-term average we will continue to lose jobs and we will continue to see downward pressure on wages." | |
| "It's better than expected. It is is probably still too soon to conclude that we have reached any turning point, but it is moderately encouraging," said Ross Walker, the UK economist at RBS Financial Markets. | "It's better than expected. It is is probably still too soon to conclude that we have reached any turning point, but it is moderately encouraging," said Ross Walker, the UK economist at RBS Financial Markets. |
| Philip Shaw, the chief economist at Investec, said: "Once again, unemployment figures show a smaller-than-expected rise in the jobless total, which is good news." |