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Statement from U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke on New Residential Construction in June 2011

Submitted on July 19, 2011 - 9:32am
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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.

New Commerce Department Report Shows Fast-Growing STEM Jobs Offer Higher Pay, Lower Unemployment

Submitted on July 14, 2011 - 9:09am

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA) today released a new report that profiles U.S. employment in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. STEM: Good Jobs Now and for the Future offers an inside look at workers who are driving our nation’s innovation and competitiveness and helping America win the future with new ideas, new companies and new industries.

application/pdf iconSTEM: Good Jobs Now and For the Future

Statement from U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke on Retail Sales in June 2011

Submitted on July 14, 2011 - 8:52am

WASHINGTON – The Commerce Department’s U.S. Census Bureau today released retail sales data for June 2011. Retail sales increased 0.1 percent, stronger than private-sector expectations of a 0.2-percent decline. Excluding motor vehicles, retail sales were unchanged, matching private-sector expectations. Sales at gasoline stations declined 1.3 percent, largely due to a May-to-June drop in gas prices.

application/pdf iconStatement from U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke on Retail Sales in June 2011

Statement from U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke on U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services in May 2011

Submitted on July 12, 2011 - 10:16am
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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.

application/pdf iconstatement_from_u.s._commerce_secretary_gary_locke_on_u.s._international_trade.pdf

Statement from U.S. Commerce Department Chief Economist Mark Doms on Personal Income and Outlays in May 2011

Submitted on June 27, 2011 - 8:52am
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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.

Statement from U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke on New Residential Construction in May 2011

Submitted on June 16, 2011 - 10:23am
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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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New Commerce Department Report Shows Foreign Direct Investment:Since 2000, FDI has Supported More Than 5 Million Jobs at 30% Higher Wages

Submitted on June 14, 2011 - 10:41am
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA) today reported that foreign direct investment (FDI) in the United States over the past decade has supported more than 5 million U.S. jobs that, on average, paid 30 percent more than other jobs. The findings, presented in a new ESA report entitled “Foreign Direct Investment in the United States,” point the way toward policies that could expand the number of foreign partners investing in the United States and, in so doing, create more high-paying U.S. jobs.

application/pdf iconESA Foreign Direct Investment Issue Brief

Statement from U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke on April 2011 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services

Submitted on June 9, 2011 - 10:15am
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke issued the following statement today on the release of the April 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 April 2011 increased 1.3 percent from March 2011 to a record $175.6 billion, with record exports of both goods ($126.4 billion) and services ($49.1 billion). The monthly export values for U.S. industrial supplies ($43.4 billion) and capital goods ($41.0 billion) was also the highest on record. U.S. imports of goods and services decreased 0.4 percent over this period to $219.2 billion, causing the U.S.

Statement from U.S. Commerce Department Acting Deputy Secretary Rebecca Blank on Personal Income and Outlays in April 2011

Submitted on May 27, 2011 - 12:02pm
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The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis today released data on personal income and outlays for April 2011. Personal income increased 0.4 percent in April, consistent with private-sector expectations. Wages and salaries, the largest component of income, rose a solid 0.4 percent, supported by improvements in the labor market. Real consumer spending rose 0.1 percent in April and is up 1.0 percent at an annual rate above its first-quarter average.

Statement from U.S. Commerce Department Chief Economist Mark Doms on the Second Estimate of Gross Domestic Product for the First Quarter

Submitted on May 26, 2011 - 11:59am

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis today released the second estimate of gross domestic product (GDP) for the first quarter of 2011. Real GDP grew 1.8 percent at an annual rate in the first quarter, unchanged from last month’s advance report and slightly below private-sector expectations of an upward revision. Corporate profits grew by $21.9 billion in the first quarter of 2011 to a level of $1,700.2 billion.