UK Unemployment Rate Down to 7.7 Percent

Lowest number of jobless claims since 2009

Britain's unemployment rate fell to the lowest level since late 2012 and jobless claims declined more-than-expected to the smallest since February 2009, adding to signs that the recovery has started creating employment and further suggesting an early interest rate hike from the central bank.

During the three months to July, the ILO unemployment rate came in at 7.7 percent, down 0.1 percentage point from the February to April period, labor market statistics published by the Office for National Statistics showed Wednesday. The rate was slightly below the expected 7.8 percent and was the lowest since September to November 2012.