UK unemployment climbs to 2.44m

By BBC Wed, Aug 12, 2009

The number of people out of work in the UK has risen to its highest level since 1995, official figures have shown.

Unemployment increased by 220,000 to 2.44 million in the three months to June, taking the jobless rate to 7.8%.

Meanwhile the claims for unemployment benefit in July grew by 24,900 from June to 1.58 million.

Average earnings growth, excluding bonuses, is at the lowest level since records began in 2001, the Office for National Statistics said.

The figures come ahead of the Bank of England's quarterly inflation report which will offer more clues on the health of the UK economy.

It will also provide more details on quantitative easing - its policy of injecting cash into the economy.

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