Building permits in June 2012 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 755,000, down 3.7 percent from the revised May rate but up 19.3 percent from June 2011. Housing starts in June 2012 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 760,000, up 6.9 percent from May’s revised estimate, and up 23.6 percent from June 2011.
May 2012 business inventories were $1,578.4 billion, up 0.3 percent from April and up 5.2 percent from May 2011. Sales were $1,245.2 billion, down 0.1 percent from April but up 5.1 percent from May 2011.
June 2012 retail and food services sales were $401.5 billion, down 0.5 percent from the previous month but up 3.8 percent from one year earlier. Excluding autos, retail and food services sales in June were $328.5 billion, down 0.4 percent from May but up 3.0 percent from June 2011.
May 2012 wholesale inventories were $484.1 billion, up 0.3 percent from April and up 6.4 percent from one year earlier. Sales were $409.6 billion, down 0.8 percent from April but up 5.7 percent from May 2011.
The May 2012 international trade deficit declined 3.8 percent from April, to $48.7 billion. Exports rose 0.2 percent, to $183.1 billion, and imports fell 0.7 percent, to $231.8 billion.
