UK unemployment rate rose by 4.4% from its lowest level in more than 10 years in December, while average wages rose in line with expectations, the National Bureau of Statistics said the unemployment rate rose to 4.4% in the three months to December, from 4.3%, despite market expectations that the unemployment rate will remain unchanged.
The number of jobless claims fell by 7,200 in January, compared to expectations of a rise of 2,300. This entails an increase of 6,200 in the previous month. The average wage, including bonuses, rose by 2.5% in the three months to December, to match expectations unchanged from the previous reading. Excluding bonuses, wages rose by 2.5%, higher than expectations of 2.4%.
