Investing.com - The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the U.K. declined more-than-expected in June, while the country’s jobless rate fell to the lowest level since January 2009, 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 36,300 last month, compared to expectations for a decline of 27,000 people. May’s figure was revised to a drop of 32,800 people from a previously reported decline of 27,400.
The report also showed that the rate of unemployment declined to 6.5% in the three months to May, in line with expectations and down from 6.6% in the three months to April.
Meanwhile, the average earnings index rose by a seasonally adjusted 0.3% in the three months to May, below expectations for a 0.5% increase, after rising by 0.8% in the three months to April.
Following the release of the data, the pound turned lower against the U.S. dollar, with GBP/USD shedding 0.13% to trade at 1.7122, compared to 1.7144 ahead of the data.
Meanwhile, European stock markets remained higher. London’s FTSE 100 rose 0.7%, the DJ Euro Stoxx 50 advanced 0.85%, France’s CAC 40 rallied 1.2%, while Germany's DAX climbed 1%.