German unemployment falls to six-year low

German unemployment fell to a six-year low in December 2007, more than double the fall economists had predicted, underlying the strength of Europe’s largest economy ahead of what could be a challenging year.

In its monthly report, published on 3 January 2008, the Federal Labour Agency said seasonally-adjusted unemployment had dropped by 78,000 to 3.4m, almost twice the average monthly fall in the past year. Altogether, more than half-a-million people came off jobless benefits in 2007.