German unemployment has unexpectedly risen above the five million mark again ... equivalent to 12.1% of the working age population. the data was skewed by the unusually cold winter ... data also released on Tuesday showed a 1.4% fall in retail sales in December. The figures reinforced recent concerns that Germany's fledgling economic recovery could be held back by weak domestic demand. The headline rise in unemployment came as a surprise with most commentators expecting a modest rise. up to 30,000 people registered as unemployed this month ahead of the introduction of new benefit rules.