Investing.com – The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the U.K. fell unexpectedly in October, declining for the first time in three months, official data showed on Wednesday.
In a report, the U.K. Office for National Statistics said that the claimant count fell by a seasonally adjusted 3,700 in October, after rising by 1,300 in September, whose figure was revised down from 5,300.
Analysts had expected the claimant count to increase by 6,000 in October.
Meanwhile, the rate of unemployment remained unchanged in September, holding steady at a seasonally adjusted 7.7%, widely in line with expectations.
The report also said that the average earnings index rose less-than-expected in September, rising by a seasonally adjusted 2.0%, after rising by 1.7% in August.
Analysts had expected the average earning index to rise by 2.1% in September.
Following the release of the data, the pound was up against the U.S. dollar, with GBP/USD gaining 0.19% to hit 1.5917.
Meanwhile, European stock markets were mixed. The FTSE 100 eased down 0.03%, the EURO STOXX 50 gained 0.39%, France’s CAC 40 added 0.32%, and Germany's DAX was up 0.41%.
In a report, the U.K. Office for National Statistics said that the claimant count fell by a seasonally adjusted 3,700 in October, after rising by 1,300 in September, whose figure was revised down from 5,300.
Analysts had expected the claimant count to increase by 6,000 in October.
Meanwhile, the rate of unemployment remained unchanged in September, holding steady at a seasonally adjusted 7.7%, widely in line with expectations.
The report also said that the average earnings index rose less-than-expected in September, rising by a seasonally adjusted 2.0%, after rising by 1.7% in August.
Analysts had expected the average earning index to rise by 2.1% in September.
Following the release of the data, the pound was up against the U.S. dollar, with GBP/USD gaining 0.19% to hit 1.5917.
Meanwhile, European stock markets were mixed. The FTSE 100 eased down 0.03%, the EURO STOXX 50 gained 0.39%, France’s CAC 40 added 0.32%, and Germany's DAX was up 0.41%.