| German unemployment has risen to 11.3%, its highest level during the government of Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. The figure is another embarrassment to Mr Schroeder, who has promised to bring unemployment down. Economy Minister Wolfgang Clement described the latest data as "extremely serious" but rejected speculation that promised tax cuts would be brought forward in order to encourage economic growth. Despite the worsening situation, the head of the German Federal Labour Office, Florian Gerster, promised a significant fall towards the end of the year. But Mr Gerster added the improvement was dependent upon a wider economic recovery in the second half of the year. |  |