<p style="text-indent:0px; line-height:12px;"><span style="font-weight:bold;line-height:130%"> Washington, D.C.</span><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">By Eric Anderson<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">5.3.13</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The retail industry has recovered from a mediocre March and added 29,000 jobs in the month of April, according to a statement released by the National Retail Federation.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><img class="small-cropped-image" src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacySmallCroppedImages/matthew-shay-headshot.jpg" alt="IMAGES 050313" />The addition “Indicates that retailers remain cautious but are seeing signs of an improving economy, and as a result, added to their payrolls heading into the summer,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Shay also expressed concerns that payroll tax increases, sequester cuts, and the upcoming debate on the debt ceiling in Congress may stymie business investment and consumer spending in the near future.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">“Finally some reassuring news on jobs and the economy,” said NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz. “Today’s 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. We are encouraged by the resilient economy and consumer.”</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.nrf.com/modules.php?name=News&op=viewlive&sp_id=1571" target="_new">NRF</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
