WASHINGTON – The 2014 holiday season should spell relief for job hunters, as more retailers will be hiring more workers in the coming months, KMEG-TV/Dakota Dunes, South Dakota, reports. Currently, the unemployment rate is at its lowest since 2008.

This is but one positive sign of an improving economy, as big box stores forecast more hires and gasoline stations post lower prices. “It has not a trickle down, but a trickle up effect,” Jeff Lenard, NACS vice president of strategic initiatives, told the news outlet. “Close to nine out of 10 consumers say gas prices weigh on their mind when they think about the economy.”

Lower gas prices are buoying the nation’s retailers as they gear up for the Christmas season by creating more than 800,000 temporary jobs. “We are going to see more part-time seasonal work as we go through the years at different times of the year. So employers can tightly manage their employee costs,” said economist Peter Morici.

While that’s not a long-term solution, it will ease some of the financial burdens facing those without permanent work. However, Morici did concede that what we pay for gasoline has a huge impact on how we view the economy. “The price of a gallon of gas has probably more effect on Americans’ psyche than any other product in the country,” he said.