Bloomberg said Swedish unemployment fell last month as the export-reliant economy is showing signs of rebounding amid optimism Europe will emerge from its debt crisis.

Figures from the Public Employment Service showed that the non-seasonally adjusted rate, as measured by the number of people claiming benefits, declined to 4.7 percent in February from 4.8 percent the previous month.

Data also showed that the country’s manufacturing confidence improved to its highest level in six months in February. The Nordic country sells about half its output abroad, of which about 70 percent go to Europe.