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German unemployment
fell faster than expected last month in another boost for Europe's
largest economy.
Figures showed June's jobless numbers fell 37,000, on a seasonally
adjusted basis, to 3.82 million - reducing the unemployment rate
from 9.2% to 9.1%.
The unemployment trend has been heading downwards for a year, although
the jobless level fell just 2,000 in May.
Healthier exports and improved domestic spending, allied to the
upturn in the eurozone, has spurred firms to recruit.
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sign
"The demand for workers continues to grow," said Frank-J
Weise, chairman of the Federal Labour Office.
Analysts said the figures - which exceeded consensus forecasts of
a 20,000 drop - signalled Germany's economic recovery was sustaining
itself.
But there are lingering concerns about future prospects should eurozone
interest rates rise further.
The European Central Bank (ECB) has been steadily lifting rates
in an effort to keep inflation in check, putting them up to 4% last
month.
Some experts believe they could rise as high as 4.5% by the end
of the year.
"The rising tide of German employment is an important precursor
for sustainable recovery going forwards," said David Brown,
chief European economist at Bear Stearns.
"The only concern is whether Germany has already passed the
peak in job creation at the end of last year and this is something
the ECB will need to factor into future calculations."
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