German unemployment rate dips to 6.6 percent

BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s unemployment rate dropped to 6.6 percent in May, but the traditional springtime decline was smaller than expected.

The Federal Labor Office said Wednesday that 61,000 fewer people were without work compared with April, when the unemployment rate was 6.8 percent. Overall, 2.88 million people were without work in May.

When adjusted for seasonal factors, the rate was steady for the third month in a row at 6.7 percent.

Because the mild winter meant the loss of fewer seasonal jobs in previous months, Labor Office head Frank-Juergen Weise said the spring recovery slowed in May, but that “overall the labor market is doing well.”

Germany’s economy grew a robust 0.8 percent in the first quarter of 2014, and is widely predicted to grow about 1.9 percent this year overall.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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