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Statement from U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson on the Advance Estimate of Gross Domestic Product in the Fourth Quarter 2011

Submitted on January 27, 2012 - 12:31pm
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The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis today released the advance estimate of gross domestic product (GDP) for the fourth quarter of 2011.  Real GDP rose 2.8 percent at an annual rate, up from 1.8 percent in the third quarter. Real GDP for 2011 overall grew 1.7 percent. The increase in real GDP reflected growth across several key economic sectors.  Real exports of goods and services increased 4.7 percent in the fourth quarter, the same increase as in the third.

 

Statement from U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson on U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services in November 2011

Submitted on January 13, 2012 - 3:27pm
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Commerce John E. Bryson issued the statement below on the release of the November 2011 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services report by the Commerce Department’s U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Today’s report showed that U.S. exports of goods and services in November 2011 decreased 0.9 percent from October 2011 to $177.8 billion, with this month’s exports of consumer goods ($15.7 billion) the highest on record. U.S. imports of goods and services increased by 1.3 percent to reach $225.6 billion, causing the U.S. trade deficit to increase by 10.4 percent to reach $47.8 billion in November 2011. Petroleum imports increased 31 percent, while crude oil imports rose by 6.5 percent.

Statement from U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson on Retail Sales in 2011

Submitted on January 12, 2012 - 2:22pm

WASHINGTON – The Commerce Department’s U.S. Census Bureau today released retail sales data for December and full year 2011. The data reflects strong growth last year, compared to 2010, increasing 7.7 percent.  Excluding automobiles, full year 2011 retail sales grew 7.3 percent.

In the month of December 2011, retail sales increased 0.1 percent from November and 6.5 percent from December 2010.  Excluding autos, December 2011 sales declined 0.2 percent from November but grew 6.0 percent from December 2010.

Commerce Department Report Provides Roadmap for Competitiveness

Submitted on January 6, 2012 - 11:52am
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Department also launches interactive report at www.commerce.gov/competes to highlight study’s findings and work already underway

WASHINGTON – The U.S Department of Commerce today delivered to Congress a comprehensive report on “The Competitiveness and Innovative Capacity of the United States.”  The report serves as a call to arms, highlighting bipartisan priorities to sustain and promote American innovation and economic competitiveness. 

 The report makes three important findings:

Statement from U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson on New Residential Construction in November 2011

Submitted on December 20, 2011 - 3:57pm
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WASHINGTON – The Commerce Department's U.S. Census Bureau today released data on new residential construction in November 2011.  Permits for new housing units rose 5.7 percent in November, well-above private-sector expectations of a 1.7 percent decline.  Housing starts soared to their highest level since April 2010, increasing 9.3 percent from October to November and 24.3 percent from November 2010. Private-sector analysts had expected an 0.3 percent rise. 

Today's news was driven in large part by a significant upturn in multi-family housing starts - an increase of 25.3 percent from October to November 2011.  The three-month average of multi-family starts is also up.

Statement from U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson on U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services in October 2011

Submitted on December 9, 2011 - 12:38pm
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Commerce John E. Bryson issued the following statement today on the release of the October 2011 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services report by the Commerce Department’s U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.  Today’s report showed that U.S. exports of goods and services in October 2011 decreased 0.8 percent from September 2011 to $179.2 billion, with this month’s exports of capital goods ($42.3 billion) the highest on record. U.S. imports of goods and services also decreased by 1.0 percent to reach $222.6 billion, causing the U.S. trade deficit to improve by 1.6 percent to reach $43.5 billion in October 2011, the lowest monthly deficit level in 2011.

 

October Personal Income Statement from Commerce Department Chief Economist Mark Doms

Submitted on November 23, 2011 - 11:13am
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Washington, DC. The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis today released data on personal income and outlays for October 2011. Personal income rose 0.4 percent in October, exceeding private-sector forecasts of a 0.3 percent increase. Wages and salaries, the largest part of income, rose 0.5 percent. Real consumer spending edged up 0.1 percent, compared to expectations of a 0.3 percent rise. This followed a pickup of 0.5 percent in September, however.

Statement from Acting Deputy Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank on U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services in September 2011

Submitted on November 10, 2011 - 1:56pm
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Acting Deputy Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank issued the following statement today on the release of the September 2011 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services report by the Commerce Department’s U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.  Today’s report showed that U.S. exports of goods and services in September 2011 increased 1.4 percent from August 2011 to a record $180.4 billion.  This month’s exports of goods ($129.3 billion) were the highest on record, with record exports in both industrial supplies and materials ($44.4 billion) and consumer goods ($15.4 billion).  U.S. imports of goods and services also increased by a slight 0.3 percent to reach $223.5 billion, causing the U.S.

New Commerce Department Report Shows Broadband Adoption Rises but Digital Divide Persists

Submitted on November 9, 2011 - 10:02am
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Adoption Gap Remains Along Demographic Lines,

Socio-Economic Status Does Not Explain the Entire Gap

application/pdf iconExploring the Digital Nation - Computer and Internet Use at Home

Statement from U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson on the Advance Estimate of Gross Domestic Product in the Third Quarter 2011

Submitted on October 27, 2011 - 9:48am
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WASHINGTON – The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis today released the advance estimate of gross domestic product (GDP) for the third quarter of 2011.  Real GDP rose 2.5 percent at an annual rate, consistent with private-sector expectations and up from the 1.3 percent increase in the second quarter and a significant step-up from the 0.4 percent gain in the first quarter.