Oil prices slide on weak US employment data

Oil prices slid Monday, underpinned by weaker-than-expected unemployment data from the United States, the world's largest economy. New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate crude for delivery in May, shed 85 cents to $102.46 per barrel. Brent North Sea crude for May settlement was down 76 cents at $122.67 in electronic trade; the London market was closed Monday. "The market is primarily driven by the US jobs report that showed slow hiring," said Victor Shum, senior principal at Purvin & Gertz international energy consultants. Despite unemployment in the United States dropping to the lowest rate in more than three years in March, the Labor Department reported Friday that the number of unemployed workers hovered close to 13 million and hiring slowed, a warning sign that its recovery may be in trouble. The economy created a meagre 120,000 jobs during the month, much lower than the 200,000 forecast by economists. Retail trade employment fell by 34,000 in March, with most of the losses coming from large merchandise stores. The health of the US economy is closely watched by the market because it is the world's biggest oil consumer.