Eurozone unemployment falls to 8.5% in February

Brussels (AFP) – Europe’s economic recovery is gaining pace, with eurozone unemployment at its lowest level since December 2008 and inflation on the rise, official figures showed Wednesday.

The EU’s official statistics agency said that the jobless rate in the single currency area fell to 8.5 percent in February, down from 8.6 percent in January.

Eurostat said inflation in the eurozone jumped to 1.4 percent in March, up from February’s 1.1 percent, bringing it closer to European Central Bank’s desired 2.0 percent.