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

Submitted on August 11, 2011 - 9:51am
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank issued the following statement today on the release of the June 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 June 2011 decreased 2.3 percent from May 2011 to $170.9 billion. The monthly export value for U.S. consumer goods ($15.0 billion) was the highest on record. U.S. imports of goods and services decreased 0.8 percent over this period to $223.9 billion, causing the U.S. trade deficit to increase 4.4 percent since May 2011 to reach $53.1 billion in June 2011.

New Commerce Department Report Finds Greater Wage Parity, Premium for Women in STEM Jobs

Submitted on August 3, 2011 - 11:25am
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commerce Department’s Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA) today issued the second in a series of reports on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) jobs and higher education.

As expected, the report, Women in STEM: A Gender Gap to Innovation, finds there are fewer women than men in STEM jobs and attaining degrees in STEM fields. But interestingly, that’s true despite the fact that the wage premium for women in STEM jobs is higher than that for men and that there’s greater income parity between genders in STEM fields than there is in the employment market as a whole.

application/pdf iconWomen in STEM: A Gender Gap to Innovation

Statement from U.S. Commerce Department Chief Economist Mark Doms on Personal Income and Outlays in June 2011

Submitted on August 2, 2011 - 11:20am
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The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis today released personal income and outlays data for June 2011. Personal income rose 0.1 percent in June, consistent with private-sector forecasts. Wages and salaries, the largest component of income, remained unchanged despite a decline in June hourly earnings. Real consumer spending was also unchanged, in line with private-sector expectations.

Statement from U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke on the Advance Estimate of GDP for the Second Quarter of 2011

Submitted on July 29, 2011 - 9:54am
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis today released the advance estimate of gross domestic product (GDP) for the second quarter of 2011. Today’s release also contained revisions to prior years. Real GDP grew 1.3 percent at an annual rate, below private-sector expectations of 1.8-percent growth and up from 0.4-percent growth in the first quarter, which was revised down from 1.9 percent. The most notable revision was to 2009, where GDP growth was revised down 0.9 percentage points, indicating that the recession was even more severe than initially estimated. GDP has now grown for eight consecutive quarters.

Statement from U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke on New Residential Construction in June 2011

Submitted on July 19, 2011 - 10:32am
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WASHINGTON – The Commerce Department’s U.S. Census Bureau today released data on new residential construction for June 2011. Housing starts surged 14.6 percent in June, easily surpassing private-sector expectations of a 2.7-percent increase. Permits for new housing units also beat expectations, increasing 2.5 percent in June following an 8.2-percent jump in May. Private-sector analysts had expected a 2.3-percent drop in permits from May to June.

New Commerce Department Report Shows Fast-Growing STEM Jobs Offer Higher Pay, Lower Unemployment

Submitted on July 14, 2011 - 10:09am

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA) today released a new report that profiles U.S. employment in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. STEM: Good Jobs Now and for the Future offers an inside look at workers who are driving our nation’s innovation and competitiveness and helping America win the future with new ideas, new companies and new industries.

application/pdf iconSTEM: Good Jobs Now and For the Future

Statement from U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke on Retail Sales in June 2011

Submitted on July 14, 2011 - 9:52am

WASHINGTON – The Commerce Department’s U.S. Census Bureau today released retail sales data for June 2011. Retail sales increased 0.1 percent, stronger than private-sector expectations of a 0.2-percent decline. Excluding motor vehicles, retail sales were unchanged, matching private-sector expectations. Sales at gasoline stations declined 1.3 percent, largely due to a May-to-June drop in gas prices.

application/pdf iconStatement from U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke on Retail Sales in June 2011

Statement from U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke on U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services in May 2011

Submitted on July 12, 2011 - 11:16am
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke issued the following statement today on the release of the May 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 May 2011 decreased 0.5 percent from April 2011 to $174.9 billion, with record monthly exports of services ($49.7 billion). The monthly export value for U.S. capital goods ($41.4 billion) was also the highest on record. U.S. imports of goods and services increased 2.6 percent over this period to $225.1 billion, causing the U.S. trade deficit to increase 15.1 percent since April 2011 to reach $50.2 billion in May 2011.

application/pdf iconstatement_from_u.s._commerce_secretary_gary_locke_on_u.s._international_trade.pdf

Statement from U.S. Commerce Department Chief Economist Mark Doms on Personal Income and Outlays in May 2011

Submitted on June 27, 2011 - 9:52am
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WASHINGTON – The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis today released data on personal income and outlays for May 2011.  Personal income rose 0.3 percent in May, slightly below private-sector forecasts of a 0.4-percent increase. Wages and salaries, the largest component of income, rose 0.2 percent, supported by a gain in hourly earnings.  Real consumer spending declined 0.1 percent, compared to private-sector expectations of a 0.1-percent increase, pulled down by a drop in motor vehicle purchases partly attributable to supply disruptions from the tsunami in Japan.

Statement from U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke on New Residential Construction in May 2011

Submitted on June 16, 2011 - 11:23am
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WASHINGTON – The Commerce Department’s U.S. Census Bureau today released data on new residential construction for May 2011. Permits for new housing units jumped 8.7 percent in May. Private-sector analysts had expected a 0.7 percent decline. Housing starts advanced 3.5 percent in May. Private-sector analysts had expected a 4.8 percent increase. Both permits and starts in April were revised up.

“While May’s housing data exceeded expectations, we recognize the imperative for a continued and full economic recovery that includes a healthy housing sector as well as continued job growth” said Locke. “This administration is committed to pursuing policies that will do just that, helping America win the future,” he said.

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