U.S. Retailers Slashed 66,000 jobs in Dec.

New York City U.S. retailers cut 66,600 jobs in December, capping the worst year for their employees since at least 1939, and they are expected to continue laying off workers as they close more stores amid the struggling economy, according to the Associated Press.

It was the 13th consecutive month of job losses in the sector, but December's pace was well above the industry's average of 43,000 for the year.

In 2008 overall, retailers shed 522,000 jobs, the most since the government began tracking the data in 1939, the report said.

Retail job losses account for 20% of the 2.6 million jobs slashed in the United States in 2008, even though retail accounted for only about 11% of total payroll employment, according to the report.