UK workers worry less about jobs

LONDON NAMPA/REUTERS British workers are feeling less worried about losing their jobs than at any time in the last four and a half years as the country's economic recovery picks up speed, a survey showed yesterday. An index measuring job security rose to 46.8 in September, up two points from August but still below the neutral level of 50, according to the poll by financial data firm Markit. The reading was the highest since Markit began the survey in February 2009. A broader gauge of how households feel about their finances - the Markit Household Finance Index - was unchanged at 40.8, not far off its highest level since 2009 but also below the neutral level. For every respondent who felt their finances improved, three said they had deteriorated, Markit said. Official data on Thursday is expected to show that Britain's economy grew 0.7% in the second quarter from the previous three months. A handful of economists say the growth rate might be revised up to 0.8%. Many households are still seeing their real incomes fall as wage growth fails to keep pace with inflation. Thirty-eight percent of respondents in the Markit survey said they were pessimistic about the outlook for their finances over the next 12 months, compared with 26% who thought things would improve.