WASHINGTON – The Commerce Department’s Census Bureau today released retail sales data for February 2012. Retail and food services sales were $407.8 billion, up 1.1 percent from the previous month and up 6.5 percent from one year ago. This was consistent with private-sector forecasts. Excluding autos, retail and food services sales in February exceeded private sector expectations, coming in at $335.3 billion -- up 0.9 percent from January and up 6.4 percent from February 2011.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Commerce John Bryson issued the following statement today on the release of the January 2012 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services report by the Commerce Department’s Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis. U.S. goods and services exports in January 2012 were up 1.4 percent or $2.6 billion from the same period of 2011 to reach $180.8 billion. This marks the second consecutive month of export growth.  In January 2012, the U.S. realized record exports in total services ($52.2 billion), capital goods ($43.2 billion), and automotive vehicles ($12.7 billion). U.S. imports of goods and services increased by 2.1 percent to reach $233.4 billion, causing the U.S.

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. 

U.S. Secretary of Commerce John Bryson issued the following statement today on the release of 2011 international trade numbers and the December 2011 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services report by the Commerce Department’s Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis. Today’s report showed that the U.S. remains on course to reach President Obama’s National Export Initiative (NEI) goal of doubling exports by the end of 2014. U.S. goods and services exports in 2011 were up 14.5 percent or $265.5 billion from the same period of 2010 to reach a record $2.1 trillion, with record levels of exports in most major merchandise categories. That follows a 16.7 percent overall increase in 2010. U.S.

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.