(ANSA-AP) - BERLIN, JAN 31 - Germany's unemployment is
holding steady at 5 per cent in a sign of strength for Europe's
largest economy. The Federal Labor Agency said Thursday that the
number of unemployed dropped by 2,000 in January over December,
leaving the rate unchanged at 5 percent for the third month in a
row, according to figures adjusted for seasonal factors.
In unadjusted terms, the rate ticked up from 4.9 percent in
December to 5.3 percent in January.
Some 190,000 more people were registered as unemployed for a
total of 2.4 million jobless.
ING economist Carsten Brzeski says the figures indicate that
the labor market remains robust despite worries of a slowing
economy amid trade conflicts, Brexit, a Chinese slowdown, and
auto industry problems. He says: "there is hardly any better
insurance against recession fears." (ANSA-AP).
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