Jobless rate drops to 12.9% in December

(ANSA) - Rome, January 30 - Italy's unemployment rate dropped in December to 12.9% from the revised 13.3% in November - both a surprise and good news for the government of Italian Premier Matteo Renzi. National statistics agency Istat said the decrease of 0.4% represented a recovery from what had been the highest rate since it began this measurement in 1977. The jobless rate had been stuck at 13.3% for both October and November, making it difficult for Renzi to argue his government is a good steward of the economy.