eurozone’s unemployment rate hit 10.1% in October as jobless rates rose in Italy, inched down in France and Germany, and remained stable in Spain.

The rate was the highest since July 1998, said EU agency Eurostat.

The number of people without a job rose by 80,000 in October to 15.95 million people, and by 84,000 people to 23.15 million in the 27-state European Union.

Separate figures showed that inflation in the 16-nation eurozone remained unchanged at 1.9% in November.

In the medium term, the European Central Bank wants to keep inflation below, but close to, 2%.

With inflation close to this target figure, analysts expect the bank to keep its main interest rate at 1%.

“The ECB is likely to be quite pleased to see eurozone consumer price inflation stabilising at 1.9% in November,” said economist Howard Archer at Global Insight.