Warren Knight

The number of people unemployed in the UK rose by 21,000 between August and October to 2.49 million. The increase was the smallest rise in the jobless total since the March-to-May period in 2008, Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures showed. The unemployment rate is currently 7.9%, according to the ONS figures. However, the number of people claiming unemployment benefit fell by 6,300 in November to 1.63 million, the first fall since February 2008.

‘Encouraging figure’ According to the ONS figures, the number of 16-to-24 year olds who are unemployed rose to 952,000, the highest figure since records began in 1992.

These figures will bolster hopes that the recession has ended in the fourth quarter of 2009 Colin Ellis, Daiwa Securities.

The number of out of work 18-to-24 year olds increased by 26,000, but this figure was offset by a fall in the number of jobless 16 and 17 year olds of 20,000. The number of people unemployed for more than a year increased by 49,000 in the latest quarter to 620,000, the highest since 1997. However, the figures also showed that the total number of people in employment rose by 53,000 over the period.

This week Rockstar Group mentor and marketing guru Warren Knight will be answering your questions about online marketing strategies, with emphasis on using social media to achieve your business goals.

The entire online community is currently buzzing about the importance of social media, but many people are confused about how to use it effectively to promote a positive image of their brand, interact with clients and ultimately make more sales and profits.

Warren is a social media and brand recognition expert and author of books on both social media for business and sales in international business.

This is a great opportunity to have your most urgent social media marketing questions answered personally by an industry expert.

Submit your questions now here: http://bit.ly/4vlKfE

Enjoy the webchat!

The company’s pre-tax loss fell to £24.9m for the 26 weeks to 24 October, compared with a loss of £27.5m in the same period last year. Overall sales rose by 5.6% to £797m. However, Waterstone’s sales fell 4.3%.

In a statement, the company says: “The exit of competitors from the UK entertainment market at the beginning of 2009 has created opportunities to capture sales in markets where these stores formerly overlapped with HMV.”

The phrase “Good food costs less at Asda” appeared in full-page advertisements run by Asda across the weekend papers.

It mirrors the phrase “Good food costs less at Sainsbury’s” which was used by the Sainsbury’s chain between 1959 and 1991.

The ads promoted Asda’s recently relaunched Extra Special food ranges in an attempt to lure better off shoppers.

It is the first of Asda’s festive ads and promotions that has focused on quality instead of “Every day low prices”.

It follows Tesco’s move to slash the prices of 200 products in its Finest range.

Sainsbury’s and Asda were unable to comment at the time of writing. Thank you MW

Drama-documentary-animation hybrid starring Oscar-nominated Pete Postlethwaite as a man living alone in the devastated world of 2055, watching archive footage from 2008 and asking why climate change wasn’t stopped before it was too late.