Building permits in May 2012 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 780,000, up 7.9 percent from the revised April rate and up 25.0 percent from May 2011. Housing starts in May 2012 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 708,000, down 4.8 percent from April’s revised estimate, but up 28.5 percent from May 2011.
April 2012 business inventories were $1,575.1 billion, up 0.4 percent from March 2012 and up 6.0 percent from April 2011. Sales were $1,249.6 billion, up 0.2 percent from March 2012 and up 5.4 percent from April 2011.
May 2012 retail and food services sales were $404.6 billion, down 0.2 percent from the previous month but up 5.3 percent from one year earlier. Excluding autos, retail and food services sales in May were $331.0 billion, down 0.4 percent from April but up 4.3 percent from May 2011.
April 2012 wholesale inventories were $483.5 billion, up 0.6 percent from March and up 8.2 percent from one year earlier. Sales were $415.0 billion, up 1.1 percent from March and up 6.8 percent from April 2011.
The April 2012 international trade deficit declined 4.9 percent from March, to $50.1 billion. Exports fell 0.8 percent, to $182.9 billion, and imports declined 1.7 percent, to $233.0 billion.
