WASHINGTON – U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke issued the following statement today on the release of the April 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 April 2011 increased 1.3 percent from March 2011 to a record $175.6 billion, with record exports of both goods ($126.4 billion) and services ($49.1 billion). The monthly export values for U.S. industrial supplies ($43.4 billion) and capital goods ($41.0 billion) was also the highest on record. U.S. imports of goods and services decreased 0.4 percent over this period to $219.2 billion, causing the U.S.

WASHINGTON – The Commerce Department’s U.S. Census Bureau today released data on new residential construction in March 2011. Permits for new housing units increased 11.2 percent, significantly exceeding private-sector expectations of a 3.0-percent rise. Housing starts increased 7.2 percent, compared with private-sector expectations of a 10.0-percent rise.

“Despite continued volatility, today’s numbers show welcome growth within the housing market,” U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said. “With 230,000 private-sector jobs added in March in industries from manufacturing to education to construction, there are positive signs for widespread growth throughout the economy and a stronger housing market in the coming year.”

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statement_from_u.s._commerce_secretary_gary_locke_on_new_residential_construction_in_march_2011.pdf

WASHINGTON – U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke issued the following statement today on the release of the February 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 February 2011 decreased 1.4 percent from January 2011 to $165.1 billion, with record exports of services ($47.2 billion). U.S. imports of goods and services decreased 1.7 percent over this period to $210.9 billion, causing the U.S. trade deficit to decrease 2.6 percent since January 2011 to reach $45.8 billion in February 2011.

statement_by_secretary_locke_on_international_trade.pdf

The August 2012 international trade deficit increased 4.1 percent from July, to $44.2 billion. Exports fell 1.0 percent, to $181.3 billion, and imports declined 0.1 percent, to $225.5 billion.

• US International Trade in Goods and Services (August 2012).pdf

August 2012 wholesale inventories were $487.5 billion, up 0.5 percent from July and up 5.3 percent from one year earlier. Sales were $405.4 billion, up 0.9 percent from July and up 2.1 percent from August 2011.

• Monthly Wholesale Trade (August 2012).pdf