Jobless numbers increase again in Germany

FRANKFURT (AFP) — The ranks of the unemployed in Germany increased in October for the ninth straight month, the Federal Labour Agency said in a report that threatened government efforts to shrink the public deficit.

The number of jobless last month rose a seasonally-adjusted 12,000 to 4.457 million people from September, it said, confirming figures obtained earlier from an informed source.

Economists had expected an adjusted rise of 15,000-20,000 in October.

"The German economy is still on a growth course. Despite this positive tendency, no turnaround on the labour market can yet be recognised," Labour Agency president Frank Weise said.

In the states of western Germany, the adjusted number of jobless rose 14,000 from the previous month, while in eastern states it fell by 2,000.

The adjusted jobless rate remained unchanged at 10.7 percent.

Uncorrected for seasonal variations, the number of ...