WASHINGTON — Total retail sales fell dramatically in March as the coronavirus pandemic forced restaurants, bars and many stores to temporarily close across the nation. But sales soared at grocery stores and were up at other retailers deemed “essential” as well, offsetting some of the decline. “COVID-19 has hit the retail industry unevenly,” NRF Chief
WASHINGTON – National Retail Federation chief economist Jack Kleinhenz says the coronavirus pandemic “has triggered shocks,” but he argues that the underlying economy is sound. “How quickly the country gets a handle on containing the virus will determine the degree of the impact on the economy and how soon businesses can reopen,” Kleinhenz wrote in
WASHINGTON — The U.S. economy added 196,000 jobs in March, but retail industry employment for the month fell by 11,700 jobs seasonally adjusted from February, according to the Labor Department. Retail jobs were also down 47,400 jobs unadjusted year-over-year. “March’s strong rebound in overall hiring throughout the economy is good news after the seesaw employment