MADRID (AP) — Spain’s National Statistics Institute says thecountry’s jobless rate dropped by
0.9 percentage points to 26.26percent in the second quarter of 2013, sorely needed good news for
aneconomy mired in recession for most of the past four years.The institute said Thursday the number of
people out of work dropped by 225,200 April through to June to 5.87 million.The rate had reached a
record 27.16 percent in the first quarter.Thereduction comes amid increasing optimism within the
conservativegovernment that its reforms and austerity measures are finally payingoff.The Bank of Spain
said recently the economy contracted in thesecond quarter but by a smaller amount than the previous
three months.It predicts the economy could start growing again in the third quarter.Copyright 2013 The
Associated Press.MADRID (AP) — Spain’s National Statistics Institute says thecountry’s jobless rate
dropped by 0.9 percentage points to 26.26percent in the second quarter of 2013, sorely needed good news
for aneconomy mired in recession for most of the past four years.The institute said Thursday the number
of people out of work dropped by 225,200 April through to June to 5.87 million.The rate had reached a
record 27.16 percent in the first quarter.Thereduction comes amid increasing optimism within the
conservativegovernment that its reforms and austerity measures are finally payingoff.The Bank of Spain
said recently the economy contracted in thesecond quarter but by a smaller amount than the previous
three months.It predicts the economy could start growing again in the third quarter.Copyright 2013 The
Associated Press.