Our latest unemployment numbers have caught some by surprise. 

Stats NZ figures show a 4% rise in the three months to December. 

That's up from 3.9% in the preceding three months but below most economists' predictions, who'd been expecting between 4.2 and 4.3%. 

ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith told Mike Hosking there's potential these figures are more reflective, and things may have actually worsened. 

He says other indicators —like benefit numbers— having been rising steadily.   

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