The number of people in the UK claiming jobless benefit rose by less than expected in March, although the total in unemployment number surged higher, while government borrowing hit a record high.
Official data from the Office for National Statistics showed the claimant count rate rose by 73,700 in March, well below forecasts for a rise of 120,000.
However, the broader ILO measure, which includes those out of work but not claiming benefits, spiked by 177,000 in the three months to February, the biggest jump since 1991.
That pushed the level of total unemployment to its highest since early 1997, just before the Labour government took office.
Meanwhile, Bank of England policymakers voted 9-0 to keep interest rates in recession-hit Britain at a record low 0.5% earlier this month, minutes of their latest meeting show.
In order to boost lending between banks, the BoE's nine-member monetary policy committee also voted unanimously on April 9 to continue pumping out £75 billion of new money.
