Investing.com – The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the U.K. declined unexpectedly in February, 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 10,200 in February, after rising by 1,500 in January, whose figure was revised down from 2,400.
Analysts had expected the claimant count to rise by 1,300 in February.
Meanwhile, the rate of unemployment rose unexpectedly in January, climbing to 8.0%, after holding steady at 7.9% in December. Analysts had expected the unemployment rate to remain unchanged at 7.9%.
The report also said that the average earnings index rose more-than-expected in January, rising by a seasonally adjusted 2.3%, surpassing expectations of 2.1%.
Following the release of the data, the pound was up against the U.S. dollar, with GBP/USD gaining 0.13% to hit 1.6101.
Meanwhile, European stock markets were mixed. The FTSE 100 was down 0.32%, the EURO STOXX 50 shed 0.1%, France’s CAC 40 dipped 0.29%, while Germany's DAX climbed 0.46%.
In a report, the U.K. Office for National Statistics said that the claimant count fell by a seasonally adjusted 10,200 in February, after rising by 1,500 in January, whose figure was revised down from 2,400.
Analysts had expected the claimant count to rise by 1,300 in February.
Meanwhile, the rate of unemployment rose unexpectedly in January, climbing to 8.0%, after holding steady at 7.9% in December. Analysts had expected the unemployment rate to remain unchanged at 7.9%.
The report also said that the average earnings index rose more-than-expected in January, rising by a seasonally adjusted 2.3%, surpassing expectations of 2.1%.
Following the release of the data, the pound was up against the U.S. dollar, with GBP/USD gaining 0.13% to hit 1.6101.
Meanwhile, European stock markets were mixed. The FTSE 100 was down 0.32%, the EURO STOXX 50 shed 0.1%, France’s CAC 40 dipped 0.29%, while Germany's DAX climbed 0.46%.