(IDEX Online News) – The US National Retail Federation said the country’s retail sector added 29,000 jobs in April following a "dismal March".

 

The NRF's President and CEO Matthew Shay and Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said that retailers "remain cautious but are seeing signs of an improving economy, and as a result, added to their payrolls heading into the summer.

 

“While the overall impact of the payroll tax increase and sequester remain a significant concern, unease over taxes and spending and the upcoming debate on the debt ceiling in Congress may once again stymie business investment and consumer spending,” said Shay.

 

Meanwhile, Kleinhenz said the “solid employment news combined with positive March revisions may bode well for the broader economy and portend steady retail sales in April.

 

“Retailers are continuing to find innovative ways to engage shoppers with the right mix of products, inventory and employment to meet their customers’ demands. With the significant decrease in jobless claims – at the lowest level since the recession – and an uptick in personal discretionary spending and consumer confidence, today’s news is very promising,” Kleinhenz added.