Kleinwort Benson  Best Private Bank 2008

Unemployment and jobless claimants dip


Both unemployment and the number of people calming jobless benefits have declined, according to new figures.

Latest data from the Office for National Statistics has revealed the proportion of the population without a job fell by 33,000 in the three months to January when compared to data from the previous quarter, taking the total to 2.449 million and keeping the jobless rate at 7.8 per cent.

And there was a greater-than-expected dip in the number of Britons claiming unemployment benefits, which dropped to 32,300 last month.

According to Reuters, analysts had anticipated a rise of 8,000.

The news helped raise the value of sterling and the news agency noted that it may give the Labour Party a boost ahead of the upcoming general election.

Commenting on the results, Mark Bolsom of Travelex stated: ’The unexpected fall in the claimant count figure is good news. It will certainly offer the government some much needed relief after yesterday’s challenges from the European Commission.’ADNFCR-2318-ID-19673813-ADNFCR

Related news

Wednesday 24 March 10

Euro dips amid EU worries

Monday 01 March 10

New FAIF rules welcomed by IMA

Wednesday 10 February 10

FSA chief executive to step down

Thursday 28 January 10

Bank stress test scheduled for 2010

Tuesday 01 June 10

BP leads sharp FTSE falls

Friday 30 April 10

UK GDP 'to grow 1% in 2010'

Tuesday 06 April 10

New 21-month high reached by FTSE

Tuesday 30 March 10

FTSE touches new 21-month high

Wednesday 17 March 10

MPC unanimous on base rate decision

Thursday 25 February 10

RBS narrows full-year loss

Tuesday 16 February 10

Inflation rises to 3.5%

Monday 08 February 10

Investors see dividends reduced

Thursday 28 January 10

Obama's speech boosts FTSE

Thursday 28 January 10

AIG bail-out defended by Geithner

Wednesday 27 January 10

FTSE reaches five-week low

Wednesday 27 January 10

Mervyn King backs bank reform plans

Tuesday 26 January 10

Lower opening predicted for FTSE

Thursday 21 January 10

Unemployment down, new figures show

Wednesday 20 January 10

Bank 'should end quantitative easing'

Monday 18 January 10

FTSE set for 'gradual gains'

Thursday 24 December 09

FTSE muted after recent gains

Monday 21 December 09

FTSE begins week strongly

Friday 18 December 09

FTSE ends week lower

Thursday 17 December 09

UK labour market "has dodged a bullet"

Thursday 17 December 09

Inflation increase 'will drop off'

Tuesday 15 December 09

FTSE dips as investors take profits

Friday 11 December 09

Morning trading brings FTSE 100 gain

Thursday 10 December 09

Bank bonus tax criticised

Tuesday 08 December 09

Dubai shares continue to decline

Tuesday 24 November 09

OECD GDP 'rose in Q3'

Wednesday 11 November 09

Darling sets date for pre-Budget report

Tuesday 20 October 09

UK economy 'waiting on world trade'

Wednesday 30 September 09

FTSE 100 enjoys strongest ever quarter

Friday 25 September 09

Bank of England 'favours weak pound'

Thursday 24 September 09

Over 50s 'stepping up ISA investments'

Wednesday 23 September 09

Foreign investment decline 'unsurprising'

Monday 14 September 09

Eurozone 'emerging from recession'

Friday 11 September 09

Shop price deflation 'worrying'

Monday 17 August 09

Weaker pound 'helping UK economy'

Wednesday 29 July 09

HMRC issues new warning on tax

Monday 13 July 09

UKFI has "no fixed timetable"

Thursday 02 July 09

PMI strengthens in June

Wednesday 01 July 09

OECD tracks inflation rates

Saturday 20 June 09

Tourism boosted by weaker pound

Thursday 04 June 09

Bank of England holds rates

Friday 29 May 09

Sales fall again in shops

Friday 22 May 09

USA 'could lose AAA rating'

Wednesday 06 May 09

NIESR sounds dire debt warning

Wednesday 22 April 09

Deflation fears as RPI goes negative

Tuesday 21 April 09

End of recession predicted by CBI

News categories