European statistics released today (1 October 2008) by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Communities, showed an increase in unemployment in the euro area, up from 7.4% to 7.5%. Compared with July 2008, the number of unemployed people increased by 90,000 in the euro area and 67,000 in the EU27.
Compared with August last year (2007), unemployment fell by 225,000 in the EU27 but rose by 272,000 in the euro area.
The euro area consists of Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia and Finland.
The EU27 includes the UK, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden.
