AFP - Britain's unemployment rate jumped to 6.7 percent in the three months to February as the number of people claiming jobless benefits hit 2.1 million, official data showed Wednesday before a crucial annual budget statement.
  
"The unemployment rate was 6.7 percent for the three months to February 2009, up 0.6 (percentage points) over the previous quarter and up 1.5 (percentage points) over the year," the Office for National Statistics said in a statement.
  
"The number of unemployed people increased by 177,000 over the quarter and by 486,000 over the year, to reach 2.10 million. The unemployment level and rate have not been higher since 1997."