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Monday, 15 June 2026

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Finance & markets

Jobless claims fall to lowest level since mid-May

The UK unemployment rate has unexpectedly gone up while the number of job vacancies has fallen to its lowest level in five years as the initial impact of the Iran war on firms starts to be felt.

Jobless claims stay low in latest week

US jobless claims rose to 215,000 last week, but layoffs remain near historic lows, signalling continued workforce stability. While employers are largely retaining workers, rising continuing claims suggest hiring remain…

Consumer credit growth soars in December

Consumer card spending increased 0.8 per cent in January – considerably less than the latest CPIH inflation rate of 3.6 per cent. Essential spend fell -1.1 per cent, marking six months of decline, but discretionary spen…