NEW YORK (MarketWatch) - Retail stocks opened lower Thursday, led by Limited Brands Inc. and Sears Holdings Corp., against lingering concerns about the pace of economic recovery as jobless claims continued to hover above 500,000 for a 53rd straight week.

The core inflation rate -- which strips out food and energy prices -- slid to an annual rate of 1.4% in the third quarter from 2% in the second quarter. Low inflation courtesy of a weak economy gives the Fed some latitude to keep interest rates down for an “extended period ” in the words of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.However for the roughly two million people currently incarcerated in US prisons inflation is skyrocketing.Bucks County Pennsylvania inmates Ryan Barrie and Ryan Kerwin have filed grievances citing a “price fixing/monopoly scandal” that revolves around the prices they paid for ...

Among the shares expected to see active trade in Thursday's session are Aetna, Campbell Soup, Hot Topic, Jack in the Box, Limited, NetApp, Sears, Sony and Stage Stores.

U.S. stock futures point to a downbeat start Thursday, as pessimism surrounding the world economy weighs on markets.

A roundup of shares likely to see active trading in Thursday's session.