THE DAILY BRIEFING

JOBS BOOST Unemployment in the United States fell to a 16-year low of 4.3pc last month in a sign of strength in the world’s biggest economy.

The fall in the jobless rate came as American firms created another 209,000 jobs – a second straight month of robust hiring.

Pay growth remained muted, however, with average hourly earnings up 2.5pc. That is below the 3.5pc to 4pc typical when the unemployment rate is this low.

POLL WINNERS Successfully polling the outcome of the snap General Election helped boost data research firm YouGov. As a result the polling firm said it now expects its trading for the full year to be strong and well ahead of its sector competitors.

LOSING OUT Workers have been told that engineering firm Delphi Die

sel Systems is to close a plant in Suffolk with the loss of 500 jobs. The Unite union said it understands the American owners plan to move work to Romania, where labour costs are cheaper.

HIGH FLYING Budget airline EasyJet carried 8.2m passengers in July, up from 7.5m the year before. Despite the strong growth the airline cancelled 541 flights, compared to 350 in the same month last year. PROFITS GROW A 9pc increase in mortgage business helped Leeds Building Society to profits of £63.2m in the first half of the year, up from £58m in the same period a year ago.

DIGS DEAL Student housing provider GCP Student Living has completed its deal to buy a £70m property in Brighton to provide accommodation for Brighton and Sussex university students as well as office space.

ELECTRIC DREAMS Carmakers Toyota and Mazda are creating a £1.2bn assembly plant in America and collaborating on technologies for electric vehicles. The two firms will take small stakes in each other as part of the tie-up – with Toyota taking a 5pc share of Mazda and Mazda taking a 0.25pc share of the larger rival.