WASHINGTON – The Commerce Department’s U.S. Census Bureau today released retail sales data for January 2012. Total retail sales grew 0.4 percent from December 2011 to January 2012.  Excluding automobiles, January 2012 retail sales grew 0.7 percent. 

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis today released data on personal income and outlays for December 2011. Personal income rose 0.5 percent in December, significantly higher than the 0.1 percent rise in November and exceeding private-sector forecasts of a 0.4 percent increase. Wages and salaries accounted for nearly half the increase with other components rising as well. Real consumer spending edged down 0.1% in December. 

The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis today released the advance estimate of gross domestic product (GDP) for the fourth quarter of 2011.  Real GDP rose 2.8 percent at an annual rate, up from 1.8 percent in the third quarter. Real GDP for 2011 overall grew 1.7 percent. The increase in real GDP reflected growth across several key economic sectors.  Real exports of goods and services increased 4.7 percent in the fourth quarter, the same increase as in the third.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Commerce John E. Bryson issued the statement below on the release of the November 2011 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services report by the Commerce Department’s U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Today’s report showed that U.S. exports of goods and services in November 2011 decreased 0.9 percent from October 2011 to $177.8 billion, with this month’s exports of consumer goods ($15.7 billion) the highest on record. U.S. imports of goods and services increased by 1.3 percent to reach $225.6 billion, causing the U.S. trade deficit to increase by 10.4 percent to reach $47.8 billion in November 2011. Petroleum imports increased 31 percent, while crude oil imports rose by 6.5 percent.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Commerce John E. Bryson issued the following statement today on the release of the October 2011 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services report by the Commerce Department’s U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.  Today’s report showed that U.S. exports of goods and services in October 2011 decreased 0.8 percent from September 2011 to $179.2 billion, with this month’s exports of capital goods ($42.3 billion) the highest on record. U.S. imports of goods and services also decreased by 1.0 percent to reach $222.6 billion, causing the U.S. trade deficit to improve by 1.6 percent to reach $43.5 billion in October 2011, the lowest monthly deficit level in 2011.