WASHINGTON – The Commerce Department’s U.S. Census Bureau today released new residential construction data for May 2012. Permits for new housing units climbed 7.9 percent from April. Housing starts were down 4.8 percent from April but up 28.5 percent from May 2011. 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Commerce John Bryson issued the following statement today on the release of the April 2012 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services report by the Commerce Department’s Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis. U.S. goods and services exports in April 2012 were down 0.8 percent from March 2012 to reach $182.9 billion. 

U.S. goods and services exports year-to-date through the first four months of 2012 were up 6.0 percent or $41.4 billion from the same period of 2011 to reach $725.8 billion. 

U.S. Secretary of Commerce John Bryson issued the following statement today on the release of the February 2012 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services report (PDF) by the Commerce Department’s Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis. U.S. goods and services exports in February 2012 were up 0.1 percent from January 2012 to reach a record $181.2 billion. In addition, record highs were seen in U.S. exports of total services ($53.2 billion), and capital goods exports ($43.2 billion).

WASHINGTON – The Commerce Department’s Census Bureau today released retail sales data for February 2012. Retail and food services sales were $407.8 billion, up 1.1 percent from the previous month and up 6.5 percent from one year ago. This was consistent with private-sector forecasts. Excluding autos, retail and food services sales in February exceeded private sector expectations, coming in at $335.3 billion -- up 0.9 percent from January and up 6.4 percent from February 2011.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Commerce John Bryson issued the following statement today on the release of the January 2012 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services report by the Commerce Department’s Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis. U.S. goods and services exports in January 2012 were up 1.4 percent or $2.6 billion from the same period of 2011 to reach $180.8 billion. This marks the second consecutive month of export growth.  In January 2012, the U.S. realized record exports in total services ($52.2 billion), capital goods ($43.2 billion), and automotive vehicles ($12.7 billion). U.S. imports of goods and services increased by 2.1 percent to reach $233.4 billion, causing the U.S.