U.S. Retail Industry Added 66,000 Jobs in July

The National Retail Federation reports a strong economy despite employment fluctuations.

August 07, 2018

WASHINGTON – The National Retail Federation (NRF) reported that the U.S. retail industry added 66,000 jobs last month. The number excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants and is unadjusted over the same time in 2017.

Monthly job gains in July occurred in general merchandise (14,000), clothing and clothing accessories stores (10,000) and food and beverage stores (8,000). The U.S. Department of Labor reported that the gains were offset by a decline of 32,000 jobs in sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores.

“While [this news] may appear disappointing after a string of monthly gains, the economy remains fundamentally strong,” said NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz in a statement. “In the past, summer months tend to show large employment fluctuations due to the timing of seasonal hiring. However, consumer and business optimism remain elevated and paints a positive picture as we head into the third quarter.”

But according to outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, retailers continue to lead in job cuts, with 75,763 announced so far this year. This number is 18.4% higher than the 63,989 retail jobs cut through the same period last year.

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