New York City added 4,700 retail jobs in the first quarter of 2013, according to a report by Eastern Consolidated.

The retail and restaurant industries added 87,000 jobs combined since 2009.

The report acknowledges that sales volume fell significantly so far this year, but it attributes that to the fact that people have less to spend after the 2012 tax filing season.

“Sales volume... » more

New York City's unemployment rate ticked down to 8.4% last month, marking a four-year low in the number of jobless residents.

State data for April released Thursday showed that New York City added 36,500 private- and public-sector jobs from March to April, causing the unemployment rate to drop from 8.9% in March.

Meanwhile, New York City added 82,000 private sector jobs in the 12-month... » more

Staten Island's City Council delegation doesn't want ferry riders to wait an hour to get on a boat any longer.

The three Staten Islanders on the Council said legislation will be introduced on Wednesday to ensure that there is ferry service every half-hour, 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

That means no more long waits for riders who have the misfortune of barely missing the boat.... » more

The city's public advocate unveiled an immigration reform plan Thursday that he said gives hardworking transplants in the Big Apple a chance at living the American dream.

Bill de Blasio, a mayoral candidate, joined several state and city elected officials and made a legislative request for bills that would help all immigrants living in the city, including one that would create a citywide ID... » more

Why do we do it?

We know the odds of any number of things — being crushed to death by a vending machine (1 in 112 million), becoming homeless (1 in 450) or being struck by lightning (1 in a million so) are far better than our odds of winning the Powerball jackpot (1 in 175 million).

Yet, once the jackpot swells more than $100 million, even the skeptical seem willing to surrender... » more

The Triple Crown talk inevitably begins roughly five seconds after the latest 3-year-old wins the Kentucky Derby. This year, it’s trainer Shug McGaughey’s colt Orb who will continue to chase history at the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore.

Although he’ll start Saturday’s race from the rail, Orb is capable of getting through the other eight horses in the field. He debuted as the even-money favorite... » more

It’s been a wild couple of weeks for Tesla Motors, the rapidly-growing manufacturer of electric cars.

It became a Wall Street darling after its announced its first-ever quarterly profit, driven by significantly better-than-expected sales. But even more importantly, the highly-influential Consumer Reports named the Tesla Model S luxury Sedan the best car it ever tested, with a stunning 99/100... » more

Amid reports of a complete shake-up at the judges table on “American Idol,” first-year judge Keith Urban announced that he wanted to stay on the Fox show.

At Wednesday’s final faceoff between Kree Harrison and Candice Glover, Urban told reporters that he would like to return as a judge next season.

“I mean, I literally enjoy coming to work every day, and that’s a rarity,” he told People... » more

Straphangers will be able to hitch a ride to the Rockaways on A train again this summer, transit officials said Thursday.

After six months since superstorm Sandy struck New York, full service to the A line will be restored May 30 “as to what it was the day before the storm,” said MTA interim director Tom Prendergast. The restored service will benefit about 35,000 riders, according to the MTA.

Gov.... » more

Wanted: Some gifted and talented test administrators who can competently select students for the city's most elite academic programs.

At the moment the kings of slapstick seem to be running the show -- and, unfortunately, the joke is on some of the city's brightest children.

Last month the city announced that a processing error mistakenly eliminated 2,700 kids -- some as young as 4 years... » more