UK jobless sees biggest jump in August since Dec 1992

The number of Britons claiming unemployment benefit rose for a seventh consecutive month in August and by its biggest amount since December 1992, official data showed on Wednesday.

The Office for National Statistics also said the number of people in work in the three months to July fell for the first time since the beginning of 2007, in a further sign that the economic slowdown is hurting the job market.

The claimant count leapt by 32,500 in August, far more than forecast, and July's figure was also revised up by more than 7,000.

Average earnings including bonuses ticked higher to 3.5 percent in the three months to July from 3.4 percent in the three months to June. Still, earnings growth remained subdued and well below the rate of inflation meaning Britons' wages are falling in real terms.