Retail Jobs Surge in California Despite So-so Sales

Employers in California’s retail trade industry added 7,900 jobs in June despite lackluster sales throughout the first half of the year. The category posted the largest month-to-month gain of the trade, transportation and utilities sector, which boosted its job count by 13,200 positions, according to a report released Thursday from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retail Metrics Inc. reported same-store sales at shops open at least a year swelled 4.1 percent last month over the year-ago period, but core retail sales showed a 0.1 percent slide from May.