Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders |
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Latest Economic Indicators
New orders for manufactured goods in June, up four of the last five months, increased $1.4 billion or 0.4 percent to $349.0 billion. Statement from ESA Under Secretary Rebecca Blank on June Personal Income
August 4, 2009
The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis today released personal income and outlays for June 2009. Nominal personal income fell 1.3 percent, real disposable personal decreased 1.8 percent, and real personal consumption expenditures declined 0.1 percent. From the fourth quarter of last year through the second quarter of this year, real disposable personal income rose 2.1 percent at an annual rate. Real consumer spending edged down 0.3 percent in the first two quarters after falling 3.3 percent during the previous two quarters.
During the first half of this year, stimulus dollars boosted real disposable personal income, and real consumer spending stabilized after falling rapidly during the second half of last year. The GDP numbers last week indicated that we are making progress in bringing this recession to an end. In June, special one-time payments to individuals provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 decreased substantially, but other provisions continue to benefit households. Most forecasters expect that consumer spending and the overall economy will expand in the coming months.
2009 Joint Statistical Meeting Washington, DC. (August 3) - Dr. Rebecca Blank, Under Secretary for Economic Affairs, delivered the keynote address to the 2009 Joint Statistical Meeting, a meeting of the American Statistical Association (ASA), the International Biometric Society (ENAR and WNAR), the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (IMS), and the Statistical Society of Canada comprised of over 5,000 statisticians from government, industry and academia meeting at the Washington Convention Center. Dr. Blank spoke about why good statistics are important to understanding the well-being of American families.
Under Secretary Blank Urges NALEO Officials to Make Your Voices Heard Hollywood, Calif. (June 26)—Under Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs, Dr. Rebecca Blank urged attendees of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) annual conference to help facilitate “equal access so everyone will participate in the 2010 Census.” “The Census is at the core of our democracy. It is not partisan, it is American—and it belongs to everyone living in America. It is about opportunity, equality and full representation, regardless of economic status, race or ethnic origin,” Blank said at the annual conference entitled “Latinos and Census 2010: On the Brink of the Count.” Under Secretary Blank joined NALEO national partners in celebration of their commitment to a full enumeration. Blank praised this 2010 Census national partnership with NALEO Executive Director Arturo Vargas, NALEO Education Fund Chairman Rafael Anchia and other “Ya es hora ¡HAGASE CONTAR! Campaign” (It’s Time, Make Yourself Count!) partners. The U.S. Census Bureau and NALEO have joined forces to inform and motivate nearly 50 million Latinos to participate in the 2010 Census. For more information on 2010 national partnerships, visit 2010census.gov/partners. (Spanish Version) (Speech ) (Presentation ) Hear Under Secretary Blank’s interview on Southern California Public Radio, KPCC-FM on Thursday, June 25, 2009 through this link: http://www.scpr.org/programs/patt-morrison/2009/06/25/our-economy-and-the-2010-census/
Under Secretary Blank Confers with Australian Deputy Prime Minister Washington (June 19) – Dr. Blank met with Australian Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard during a working lunch devoted to socioeconomic issues. The Deputy Prime Minster is deputy head of the Australian government and carries the cabinet responsibility for education, employment, workplace relations and social inclusion. Under Secretary Blank attended to offer her expertise to the discussion on social policy responses to poverty and social inclusion.
“In Dr. Blank, we have the right person to handle a series of looming challenges,” Commerce Sec. Gary Locke said. “She will help the Census Bureau conduct an accurate and complete count in the 2010 Census, and I’m relying on her to provide sound economic data and analysis to guide the nation through the worst economic crisis in 60 years.” (More) "Live Webcast", Dr. Blank’s Statement , Dr. Blank’s Biography , White House Press Release on Nomination
Washington (July 13)—The United States Senate confirmed Dr. Robert Groves as the new director of the U.S. Census Bureau, on a strong bipartisan voice vote. Groves, a highly respected expert in the field of survey methodology, takes the helm of the agency at a critical time as it makes final preparations for the 2010 Census. “The 2010 Census faces significant challenges and Dr. Groves will help us meet those challenges,” U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said. “He is a respected social scientist, highly regarded by the professional statisticians, geographers, mathematicians and demographers who work at the Census Bureau. He will run the agency with the integrity and independence demanded by the Constitution, and expected by the American people.” (More) (Press Release)
Groves Nomination Clears Committee and Sent to U.S. Senate Dr. Robert Groves, Nominee for Director of the United States Census Bureau, Department of Commerce was unanimously approved by voice vote without objections on Wednesday, May 20 by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. His nomination was sent to the full U.S. Senate for confirmation.
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act For information about Commerce agencies' efforts, visit Commerce.gov/Recovery. |
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