Spanish jobless claims rise for first time in 7 months
Spain registered in August its first a increase in jobless claims in seven months, data showed Wednesday, but with elections just months away the government dismissed it as a seasonal uptick that does not wipe away improvements over the past year.
Jobless claims increased last month by 21,679, or 0.54 percent, to 4.07 million, the labour ministry said in a statement.
August is traditionally weak for the Spanish jobs market as hotels and restaurants cut back on staff as the busy summer tourism season comes to an end.
The number of people without work rose mainly in the services sector, with increases also in manufacturing and in the construction, but declined in the agriculture sector as the harvest season began.
However the number of registered unemployed was down by 359,975 or 8.1 percent over August 2014, the biggest annual decline ever registered during the month of August, the labour ministry said.
Conservative Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is betting on an improved economy to give him a boost as he prepares for what promises to be a hard-fought re-election campaign at the end of the year.
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