Business · 11 November 2025
UK unemployment rises as FTSE 100 hits record
UK unemployment jumped to 5% in September, its highest level since 2021, exceeding economist forecasts of 4.9% while payrolled employees fell by 32,000. Wage growth simultaneously cooled to 4.8% including bonuses and 4.6% excluding bonuses, strengthening market expectations for a December Bank of England interest rate cut to over 80%. The weaker economic data weakened the pound but drove the FTSE 100 to new record highs above 9,800 points, with housebuilders particularly benefiting from lower rate expectations.
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