The UK unemployment rate unexpectedly picked up in the three months to January, while the pace of wage growth eased, numbers on Tuesday showed.
According to the Office for National Statistics, the nation’s unemployment rate in three months to January increased to 3.9%, from 3.8% in the three months to December.
The jobless rate was expected to remain at 3.8% for the period, according to FXStreet cited consensus.
The ONS said average earnings excluding bonuses rose 6.1% on-year in the period, the pace of growth easing from 6.2% in the three months to December, where it had been expected to remain. Including bonuses, growth eased to 5.6% from 5.8%. According to FXStreet, only a slowdown to 5.7% was expected.
The data comes ahead of the Bank of England’s next interest rate decision a week on Thursday. Before that rate call, there is UK gross domestic product data for January reported on Wednesday, and a consumer price index reading exactly a week later.
Numbers in February had showed the annual UK consumer price inflation was unchanged at 4.0% in February, where it had stood in January.
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