An unexpected rise in unemployment has hit Germany while the rate in France climbed to a new record high.
New figures show that 2.9 million people in Germany are currently without work. This figure, for May, is the largest monthly jump since April 2009.
Economists had predicted there would be a drop in unemployment of 15,000 rather than an increase of 24,000. But it was not enough to change the overall rate of 6.7%.
Fresh data from France put the jobless total at 3.4 million. The increase in April was 14,800. Economists believed there would be a rise, but only in the region of 5,000.
