UNEMPLOYMENT: OECD STANDARDISED RATE FALLS TO 6.6% IN MAY.

• Position: Brief article - Statistical data

The standardised unemployment rate for the OECD area fell to 6.6% in May 2005, 0.1 percentage point lower than the previous month and 0.3 percentage point lower than a year earlier.

In the Euro area, the standardised unemployment rate fell to 8.8% in May 2005, 0.1 percentage point lower than the previous month and 0.1 percentage point lower than a year earlier. The United States' standardised unemployment rate for May 2005 fell to 5.1%, 0.1 percentage point lower than the previous month and 0.5 percentage point lower than a year earlier. For Japan, the rate remained at 4.4% in May 2005, 0.2 percentage point lower than in May 2004.

In May 2005, the standardised unemployment rate in France remained at 9.8%, 0.2 percentage point higher than a year...