Investing.com - The jobless rate in the UK held steady in August while wage inflation rose more than expected, official data showed on Wednesday.
The Office for National Statistics said that the rate of unemployment held as expected at 4.3% in August.
The claimant count increased by a seasonally adjusted 1,700 in September, worse than expectations for a gain of 1,000 people and following a decline of 200 a month earlier, whose figure was revised from a previously reported drop of 2,800.
Meanwhile, the average earnings index, including bonuses, rose by a seasonally adjusted 2.2% in the three months to September, beating forecasts for a 2.1% rise.
August’s reading was revised to a gain of 2.2% from the prior 2.1% increase.
Excluding bonuses, wages rose by 2.1% in the three months to August, compared to expectations for a 2.0% gain and after the prior month’s 2.2% increase which was revised from an initial 2.1% advance.
Following the report, GBP/USD traded at 1.3180 from around 1.3181 ahead of the release of the data, EUR/GBP was at 0.8920 from 0.8921 earlier, while GBP/JPY exchanged hands at 148.36 compared to 148.29 previously.
Meanwhile, European stock markets showed mixed trade. London’s FTSE 100 gained 0.24%, the benchmark Euro Stoxx 50 slipped 0.04%, France's CAC 40 rose 0.19%, while Germany's DAX advanced on 0.26%.