NEW YORK, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Crude prices retreated slightly Friday after a report that U.S. unemployment soared to a 25-year high in March.

    The U.S. Labor Department said that employers cut a net total of 663,000 jobs in March, more than 654,000 jobs analysts had expected. The unemployment rate jumped to 8.5 percent last month, the highest since late 1983.

    Meanwhile, the Institute for Supply Management reported its non-manufacturing index fell to 40.8 last month from 41.6 in February.

    A stronger dollar also weighed on oil prices. The greenback rose against the euro Friday after the European central bank decided to lower its key interest rate to a record low 1.25 percent.

    Light, sweet crude for May delivery was down 13 cents to settled at 52.51 U.S. dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. London Brent crude was up 72 cents to settled at 53.47 dollars a barrel.