German unemployment rose to a new post-World War II record in February as the number of people without a job climbed above 5.2 million, according to government figures released Tuesday. The jobless figure in Europe's largest economy hit a new record for the second straight month. It rose to 5.216 million from 5.037 million in January, when it passed the politically sensitive 5 million mark for the first time as a new benefit system swelled the ranks of the registered unemployed. The unadjusted jobless rate rose to 12.6 percent from 12.1 percent _ equaling the previous record, set in January 1998.
