The Office for National Statistics released the U.K. labour market data. The U.K. unemployment rate fell to 6.6% in the three months to April from 6.8% in the previous three months. That was the lowest level since early 2009. Analysts had expected a decline to 6.7%.

Jobless claims (claimant count) declined by 27,400 in May, compared with a forecast for a decline of 25,000 people. April’s figure was revised to a decrease of 28,400 from 25,100.

Weekly earnings increased by 0.7% in the three months to April, missing expectations for a 1.2% gain, after a 1.7% rise in the previous three months. The growth of wages is slower than inflation in the U.K. The inflation rate in the UK was 1.8% in April.