In Brief: Unemployment rate; SLD pre-election handout; Inflation

"In the first half of October, unemployment decreased by around 1,000, while a year ago it grew by 6,000," said Hausner. The Central Statistical Office (GUS) will publish official September unemployment figures today, with Hausner expecting a jobless rate of 18.9%. (Parkiet,p. 8) ... The Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), which wants to give special one-time handouts to 4.8 million pensioners next year, costing the budget zł.1.3 billion, now says that this proposal is to be financed by reducing other expenditures, rather than the introduction of a new 50% personal income tax rate. (Parkiet, p. 8) ... Net core inflation, (inflation net of fuel and food prices), has remained stable over the past three months under 2.5%, meaning that the Monetary Policy Council (RPP) has succeeded in halting the rise in inflationary expectations, said RPP member Andrzej Wojtyna. However, he warned that a further rise in oil prices could lead to the resurgence of these expectations. (Parkiet, p. 7) T.J.