U.K. jobless claims fall by 33,600; Unemployment rate dips to 6.2%

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the U.K. declined more-than-expected in August, while the country’s jobless rate fell to the lowest level since December 2008, official data showed on Wednesday.

The report also showed that the rate of unemployment declined to 6.2% in the three months to July, compared to expectations for a reading of 6.3% and down from 6.4% in the three months to June.In a report, the U.K. Office for National Statistics said that the claimant count fell by a seasonally adjusted 37,200 last month, compared to expectations for a decline of 30,000 people. July’s figure was revised to a drop of 37,400 people from a previously reported decline of 33,600.

Meanwhile, the average earnings index, including bonuses, rose by a seasonally adjusted 0.6% in the three months to July, above expectations for a 0.5% gain, after falling by 0.4% in the three months to June.

Excluding bonuses, wages rose by 0.7% in the three months to July, meeting forecasts and following a 0.7% gain in the three months to June.

GBP/USD was trading at 1.6316 from around 1.6318 ahead of the release of the data, while EUR/GBP was at 0.7946 from 0.7945 earlier.

Meanwhile, European stock markets remained modestly higher. London’sFTSE 100 tacked on 0.1%, the DJ Euro Stoxx 50 rose 0.3%, France's CAC 40 advanced 0.4%, while Germany's DAX picked up 0.3%.