Unemployment up by unexpected 15,000 for quarter

We have become so used to the UK unemployment figures drifting gently lower that an upward movement, albeit quite small, comes as a bit of a shock.

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) is showing an increase in the number of people out of work by 15,000, totalling 1.850,000 jobless for the quarter March to May, the first increase seen for two years. The overall figure stands at 5.6% of the available workforce.

The big concern within these figures is always in the number of young workers unemployed, the so called "Lost Generation", that stands at 729,000 in the age group 16-24 and that did show a fall of 13,000.

The worry is that this may be a trend reversal and a substantial sign that the recovery of the UK economy is not as strong as all the main economic data has been showing. The figures to the end of August will be eagerly anticipated, as economists will see this as a key indicator when assessing the strength of UK plc. Is this a one of blip or has our economic revival run out of steam?