US retail industry adds jobs

The American retail industry saw modest growth in the last month and added 40,000 jobs in June as employers kept

hiring.

While there hasn't been any month in 2014 that saw a huge growth in retail sales, the sector is picking up despite consumer caution.

Retail sales rose a seasonally adjusted 0.3 percent last month, the US Commerce Department said.

Retail rents have also been rising in the US, particularly in shopping centres where there is more competition for space. Vacancy rates in malls remained minimal in the second quarter of the year.