Jobless total hits new low

Unemployment fell to a new low in December as the number of jobless claimants fell by 2,600 to 1,041,700 or 3.6% of the population.

But, unemployment rose in five regions - the North West, the East and West Midlands, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The ILO count which includes people not claiming benefit - increased by 11,000 in the three months to November to 1,579,000.