German unemployment at 14yr low

Germany 's jobless rate fell to 8.8 percent in September, its lowest level in over 14 years, showing Europe's largest economy is in good health despite financial market turmoil and a strong euro.

Unemployment fell for the 18th month running, the Federal Labour Office said on Thursday, with the seasonally adjusted jobless total falling 50,000 to 3.694 million. A Reuters poll had pointed to a smaller monthly decline of 20,000.

The fall in the seasonally adjusted jobless rate to 8.8 percent from a downwardly revised 8.9 percent in August took it down to the lowest level since June 1993.

Today's figures are a further boost for Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition government, which made cutting unemployment a priority when it took office in late 2005.