A busy time for economic news. Claimant count unemployment fell by 11,100 in November to a 32 year low of 813,000, the lowest figure since June 1975. Total unemployment (ILO measure) fell 15,000 to 1.64milion in the three months to October. Average earnings increased by 4% in the year to October, down 0.1% from the previous month's rate. Both sets of data may ease inflationary pressures.
The UK trade deficit narrowed in October; the shortfall on trade in goods and services fell to £4.1bn in October, from £4.8bn in September. The goods trade deficit shrank by more than analysts had been expecting, narrowing to £7.1bn from September's upwardly-revised figure of £8bn. The surplus in the services sector came in at £3bn for October, down slightly from September's surplus of £3.1bn.
House prices in the UK fell for the fourth month in a row in November, says the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics). Its latest survey shows that price falls became more widespread, with 58% of its members reporting a drop in prices over the previous three months. Prices fell in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and rose only in Scotland.
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