Dive Brief:

• The U.S. economy added 288,000 jobs in April, reflecting an unemployment rate of 6.3%, the lowest since September 2008 according to a report by U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics released Friday. 

• That beat economists’ expectations of an unemployment rate of 6.6%.

• Extreme winter weather contributed to muted growth and employment in previous months, government economists said.

Dive Insight:

The jobs report release, which includes surveys of households as well as businesses including retailers, is the latest in recent assessments showing stronger growth in the U.S. economy. Friday’s report is welcome news to retailers that have been grappling with what has been generally recognized as winter-weather-induced sales declines.