Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Here's the Data

Two days ago we wrote about Brexit, indicating that we found arguments that Brexit would hurt the U.K. unproven and probably incorrect. Today comes an article in the Express (U.K.) with the following cheery news:
Proving doom-mongers fears of economic disaster have been wrong, unemployment fell by 52,000 between April and June to 1.64 million to remain at a rate of just 4.9 per cent - the lowest since 2005 - figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed today.

The last time there were fewer out of work Britons was between March and May 2008. At the same time, average total earnings increased by 2.4 per cent in the year to June, to a typical £501 a week.

The employment rate also reached a new record high of 74.5 per cent, with 31.75 million people in work in the three months to June - 172,000 more than the previous quarter. Furthermore, the number of people claiming job benefits in July also fell by 8,600 to 763,600 - the first fall since February.
Indeed, whatever is causing other Europeans to take a more favorable view of the EU, it isn't some terrible economic beating the U.K. is suffering. Perhaps mainland Europeans would like fewer Brits in their lives, who knows? Hat tip to Lucianne.com for the link.