WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis today released the advance estimate of gross domestic product (GDP) for the second quarter of 2011. Today’s release also contained revisions to prior years. Real GDP grew 1.3 percent at an annual rate, below private-sector expectations of 1.8-percent growth and up from 0.4-percent growth in the first quarter, which was revised down from 1.9 percent. The most notable revision was to 2009, where GDP growth was revised down 0.9 percentage points, indicating that the recession was even more severe than initially estimated. GDP has now grown for eight consecutive quarters.

WASHINGTON – The Commerce Department’s U.S. Census Bureau today released data on new residential construction for June 2011. Housing starts surged 14.6 percent in June, easily surpassing private-sector expectations of a 2.7-percent increase. Permits for new housing units also beat expectations, increasing 2.5 percent in June following an 8.2-percent jump in May. Private-sector analysts had expected a 2.3-percent drop in permits from May to June.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke issued the following statement today on the release of the May 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 May 2011 decreased 0.5 percent from April 2011 to $174.9 billion, with record monthly exports of services ($49.7 billion). The monthly export value for U.S. capital goods ($41.4 billion) was also the highest on record. U.S. imports of goods and services increased 2.6 percent over this period to $225.1 billion, causing the U.S. trade deficit to increase 15.1 percent since April 2011 to reach $50.2 billion in May 2011.

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WASHINGTON – The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis today released data on personal income and outlays for May 2011.  Personal income rose 0.3 percent in May, slightly below private-sector forecasts of a 0.4-percent increase. Wages and salaries, the largest component of income, rose 0.2 percent, supported by a gain in hourly earnings.  Real consumer spending declined 0.1 percent, compared to private-sector expectations of a 0.1-percent increase, pulled down by a drop in motor vehicle purchases partly attributable to supply disruptions from the tsunami in Japan.

WASHINGTON – The Commerce Department’s U.S. Census Bureau today released data on new residential construction for May 2011. Permits for new housing units jumped 8.7 percent in May. Private-sector analysts had expected a 0.7 percent decline. Housing starts advanced 3.5 percent in May. Private-sector analysts had expected a 4.8 percent increase. Both permits and starts in April were revised up.

“While May’s housing data exceeded expectations, we recognize the imperative for a continued and full economic recovery that includes a healthy housing sector as well as continued job growth” said Locke. “This administration is committed to pursuing policies that will do just that, helping America win the future,” he said.

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