The September 2011 international trade deficit fell 4.0 percent, to $43.1 billion. Exports rose 1.4 percent, to $180.4 billion, and imports increased 0.3 percent, to $223.5 billion.

us_international_trade_in_goods_and_services_september_2011.pdf

Personal income in September 2011 rose 0.1 percent. Nominal personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased 0.6 percent and real PCE rose 0.5 percent. Nominal disposable personal income (DPI) increased 0.1 percent and real DPI fell 0.1 percent. The personal saving rate as a percentage of DPI was 3.6 percent in September.

personal_income_and_outlays_september_2011.pdf

Let’s go back in time by 2 months to August:  stock markets were reeling and fears of a double dip recession were being increasingly espoused (at least according to Google’s recollection) and a measure of consumer sentiment plunged.  However, a funny thing happened to those naysayers’ predictions: the economy continued to grow, clearly not strongly enough, but it continued to grow.  Consumers increased their spending, 

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Real gross domestic product (GDP) grew at an annual rate of 2.5 percent in the third quarter of 2011, according to today’s advance estimate. This follows a growth rate of 1.3 percent in the second quarter of 2011.

gross_domestic_product_third_quarter_2011_advance_estimate.pdf

The August 2011 international trade deficit was virtually unchanged at $45.6 billion. Exports fell 0.1 percent to $177.6 billion, while imports were unchanged at $223.2 billion.

us_international_trade_in_goods_and_services_august_2011.pdf