US jobless numbers up in April

US jobless figures are up slightly in April as high energy prices dented consumer confidence and spread doubt about the strength of the recovery in the world’s largest economy.

The April figures end a run of seven straight months of net job creation.

Still the fluctuations remain too small to have any real affect on the 13.5 million Americans out of work.

Companies are in a difficult position they fear having too many staff on their books if recovery slows, but do not want to be short staffed if business takes off.

Retailers are aware that people are prepared to spend money if the price is right.

Cojo is a style spokesperson for T.J Maxx:

“I think the consumer is very savvy now and very smart. I think the world has opened up. I think five years ago or even 10 years ago the climate was about snob appeal. It is not about snob appeal anymore, it’s not elitist anymore the walls have come down.”

As a whole the US economy has recovered only a fraction of the more than 8 million jobs lost in the 2007-2009 recession.

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