April's MIC - Misery Index Confcommercio, i.e., the indicator that in its current formulation underestimates extended unemployment in view of the impossibility of enucleating the number of discouraged and underemployed, stood at an estimated value of 16.7, up moderately from the previous month. Last month's figure summarizes a pickup in inflation for prices of high-frequency goods and services and a slight improvement in the unemployment component. The labor market also showed lively elements in April. The number of employed persons increased by 48,000 over the previous month, and job seekers decreased by 14,000; the number of inactive persons decreased by 25,000 over the same period. These dynamics brought the official unemployment rate to 7.8 percent (7.9 percent in March).
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