Unemployment statistics in Germany have risen for the 11th month in a row, bringing 2004's average unemployment rate back up to that was it was in 1990 as the East and West were re-joined.
The Bundesbank said unemployment figures rose 17,000 to 4.483 million, which was higher than had been expected. The figures mean that 10.8% of Germany's workforce are now without a job.
Labour office chief Frank-Juergen Weise said: "The three years of stagnation in the German economy came to an end in 2004. But the upturn is still not strong enough" to boost the labour market.
