According to newly released data from the Commerce Department, international visitors traveling to the United States pumped an estimated $11.7 billion into the U.S. economy during the month of September, up $1.7 billion compared to the same period last year. This marks the fifth month of double-digit growth and ninth straight month of overall growth in U.S. travel and tourism exports. Total travel and tourism-related exports have increased, on average, $1.2 billion a month in 2010. (More)

Washington, DC – A U.S. Department of Commerce report released today confirms the importance of exports to the U.S. economy and the increasingly globalized marketplace. According to Exports Support American Jobs, in 2008, exports accounted for a record 12.7 percent of U.S. gross domestic product (GDP), and during a period of relatively flat job growth across the economy, supported a record number of jobs – more than 10 million.