Investing.com - The jobless rate in the U.K. remained as expected at an 11-year low in November, while wages rose more than forecast and the unemployment benefits claimant count for December unexpectedly fell, official data showed on Wednesday.
The Office for National Statistics said that the rate of unemployment remained unchanged for at an 11-year low of 4.8% in the three months to November, in line with forecasts.
The claimant count declined by a seasonally adjusted 10,100 in December, compared to expectations for an increase of 5,000 people, and following a rise of 1,300 a month earlier, whose figure was revised up from a previously reported gain of 2,400.
Meanwhile, the average earnings index, including bonuses, rose by a seasonally adjusted 2.8% in the three months to November, compared to forecasts for it to increase 2.6% and after rising 2.6% in the prior month, revised from an initial 2.5% gain.
Excluding bonuses, wages rose by 2.7%, beating forecasts for a 2.6% rise and following a 2.6% increase in the three months to November.
Following the report, GBP/USD traded at 1.2326 from around 1.2321 ahead of the release of the data, EUR/GBP was at 0.8669 from 0.8670 earlier, while GBP/JPY exchanged hands at 139.66 compared to 139.60 prior to the release.
Meanwhile, European stock markets traded mixed. London’s FTSE 100 rose 0.15%, the benchmark Euro Stoxx 50 inched up 0.05%, France's CAC 40 lost 0.19%, while Germany's DAX advanced 0.20%.