According to the National Retail Federation, the retail industry in the U.S. (excluding the automotive and gasoline industries) experienced a decline of 17,700 jobs in August. The industry that lost the most jobs was food and beverage stores, which on their own lost 17,000 jobs. “Employment figures for August were undoubtedly disappointing and lackluster,” says Jack Kleinhenz, NRF chief economist. “The weaker job growth in August presents a mixed picture of the economy compared to other positive indicators, including consumer confidence and average hourly earnings, which point to an improving economy.”
