Inflation and unemployment figures rise

Unemployment and inflation figures for December have risen.

At the end of December 2.6 per cent of the population was registered as unemployed, with 1,159 people seeking work.

It represents an increase of 42 people on November’s figures.

Inflation also  jumped 4 per cent on November’s numbers to 2.9 per cent.

Food saw the biggest increase on last year’s figures, increasng to 8.5 per cent.

This has been attributed to uncontrollable factors worldwide forcing up the price of wheat and grain, and a poor harvest last year.