Retail Job Applicants at Lowest Level Since September 2007

The Kronos Retail Labor Index rose to 4.1 percent in May from an April level that was revised two-tenths lower. The May reading reflected a moderate decline in hiring outpaced by a sharp drop in applications. The level of applications in May was more than 250,000 below its level one year ago, reflecting the uneven downward trend that began in the second half of last year. The number of applications received in May was at the lowest level since September 2007.