The December 2012 international trade deficit decreased 20.7 percent from November, to $38.5 billion. Exports rose 2.1 percent, to $186.4 billion, and imports fell 2.7 percent, to $224.9 billion. In 2012 overall, the trade deficit declined 3.5 percent to $540.4 billion. Exports rose 4.4 percent, to $2,195.9 billion, and imports increased 2.7 percent, to $2,736.3 billion.
December 2012 new orders for manufactured durable goods increased 1.8 percent, to $484.8 billion. Shipments rose 0.4 percent, to $484.9 billion. Unfilled orders increased 0.8 percent, to $991.7 billion. And inventories rose 0.1 percent, to $615.5 billion.
Construction spending in December 2012 was $885.0 billion at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, up 0.9 percent from the revised November 2012 estimate and up 7.8 percent from December 2011. For the full year 2012, construction spending was $850.2 billion, up 9.2 percent from 2011.
Sales of new single-family houses in December 2012 were 369,000 at a seasonally adjusted annual rate, down 7.3 percent from November’s revised rate, but up 8.8 percent from December 2011. For 2012 overall, new home sales increased 19.9 percent from 2011.
Building permits in December 2012 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 903,000, up 0.3 percent from the revised November rate and up 28.8 percent from December 2011. Housing starts in December 2012 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 954,000, up 12.1 percent from the revised November estimate and up 36.9 percent from December 2011. For 2012 overall, building permits increased 30.3 percent and starts grew 28.1 percent.
