Reduction of Solidarity Supplement still uncertain Bonn. Despite an agreement within the Coalition, it remains uncertain whether a 2 percent reduction to the Solidarity Supplement will come to pass. Of a DM 7.5 billion shortfall in federal revenues, only DM 700 million has been covered so far. Government sources bringing forward these figures thus contradicted reports that the reduction was now sure to go into effect on January 1, 1998. Federal Finance Minister Waigel only has that much leeway in the 1998 budget.
Unemployment rate rises again Nuremberg.
Due to seasonal fluctuations, the number of unemployed is up. Employment offices registered an increase of 132,000 unemployed over last month, for a total of more than 4.3 million. According to the Federal Labour Office, the rate has climbed from 11 percent to 11.4 percent in the last month. Taking seasonal adjustments into account, there are 17,000 more unemployed around Germany than last month. Since last winter saw systemic unemployment increase significantly too, there are 443,000 more unemployed today than 12 months ago.