UK unemployment falls again

UK unemployment in the three months to October fell by 63,000 to 1.96 million, official figures show.

The fall was the slowest quarterly fall for a year, leading some analysts to speculate that the rate of improvement may have peaked.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the jobless rate was 6%, matching its lowest level in six years.

On a quarterly basis, average earnings excluding bonuses grew by 1.6%. Including bonuses they rose by 1.4%.

For a long time, earnings growth had been lagging the inflation rate, but in the last quarter it overtook inflation for the first time in five years, and the latest figures show that

Public sector strikes hit schools and services around the UK

Strikes are taking place across the UK in a series of disputes with the government over pay, pensions and cuts, with more than a million public sector workers expected to join the action.

Firefighters, librarians and council staff are among those taking part from several trade unions, with rallies due to be held across the UK.

Thousands of pupils are set to miss lessons as many schools are closed.

But the Cabinet Office said it seemed most workers were at work as usual.

A spokesman for the cabinet office said