U.S. Labor Market Shows Mixed Signals as Retail Layoffs Surge

February's jobs report highlights modest job growth, rising unemployment, and significant challenges in the retail sector driven by economic pressures and policy uncertainty.

• The U.S. economy added 151,000 jobs in February, falling short of expectations of 160,000, while the unemployment rate rose slightly to 4.1%.
• Retail employment declined by 6,300 jobs in February, with over 45,000 layoffs announced in the sector so far this year due to store closures and corporate restructuring.
• Economic uncertainty, ongoing tariff policies, and inflationary pressures have dampened consumer confidence and business investment decisions across industries.
• The Federal Reserve is expected to maintain current interest rates in March but faces growing pressure to consider rate cuts by mid-2025 as inflation shows signs of moderating.
• Analysts note a cooling labor market, with rising part-time employment and multiple jobholders, while retail bankruptcies and layoffs signal broader challenges for the sector.

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