Figures just released from the Office of national Statistics,show UK unemployment has fallen unexpectedly by 17,000 in the quarter to the end of February to 7.8%.

This equates to a total unemployed workforce of 2.48 million with the unemployed young (16-24) not far short of the 1 million mark (963,000). The number of people receiving jobseekers allowance increased by 700 in March to 1.45 million.

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) figures showed that the number of unemployed men fell by 31,000 to 1.45 million but increased by 14,000 for women to just over a million.

A little good news to follow the reduction in the inflation rate announced earlier in the week from 4.4% to 4%.