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

Submitted on February 15, 2011 - 12:53pm

WASHINGTON – The Commerce Department’s U.S. Census Bureau today released retail sales data for January 2011. Retail sales rose 0.3 percent in January. This figure was slightly below private-sector expectations of a 0.6-percent gain. Excluding automobiles, retail sales grew 0.3 percent in January. Sales at motor vehicle dealers increased 0.6 percent. “Retail sales, along with other indicators of consumer spending, continues to show growth following strong gains in the second half of 2010,” U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said.

application/pdf iconStatement on Retail Sales, January 2011

Statement from U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke on December 2010 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services

Submitted on February 11, 2011 - 2:35pm
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke issued the following statement today on the release of the December 2010 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 December increased 1.8 percent from November to $163 billion. U.S. imports of goods and services increased 2.6 percent to $203.5 billion, with the overall trade deficit growing by 5.9 percent in December to $40.6 billion. After dropping 14.6 percent in 2009, exports grew 16.6 percent in 2010, compared with an average annual rise of 11.2 percent during 2002-2008.

application/msword iconStatement by Secretary Locke on International Trade in Goods and Services

Chief Economist Doms Delivers Key Address on Economic Outlook for 2011

Submitted on February 10, 2011 - 12:50pm
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Chief Economist Mark Doms speaks in KY at 22nd Annual Outlook Conference

Lexington, KY, February 1, 2011 - Chief Economist Mark Doms made a presentation entitled “Innovation, Competitiveness, Economic Growth and Public Policy” at the 22nd Annual Economic Outlook Conference for 2011 sponsored by the University of Kentucky’s Gatton College of Business and Economics at the Lexington Convention Center.

Statement from U.S. Commerce Department Acting Deputy Secretary Rebecca Blank on Personal Income and Outlays in December 2010

Submitted on January 31, 2011 - 12:54pm
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WASHINGTON – The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis today released data on personal income and outlays for December 2010. Personal income and real personal consumption expenditures rose 0.4 in December, consistent with private-sector expectations. In November, personal income rose a similar 0.4 percent. “Today’s data show consumer spending clearly accelerated at the end of last year,” said U.S. Commerce Department Acting Deputy Secretary Rebecca Blank. “Personal income also posted stronger gains in the fourth quarter compared to the third. Looking ahead, we expect disposable personal income to get a boost from the Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010, which increases the take-home pay of many working families.

application/pdf iconStatement on Personal Income and Outlays by Deputy Secretary Rebecca M. Blank

Commerce Department Hosts First Meeting of 2010 Federal Economic Statistics Advisory Committee

Submitted on December 17, 2010 - 5:44pm

Washington, December 17 — U.S. Commerce Department Acting Deputy Secretary Rebecca M. Blank welcomed members of the newly-formed Federal Economic Statistics Advisory Committee (FESAC) Friday during the group's first meeting as a function of the Commerce Department. The committee will advise agency heads of the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) - both within the Department of Commerce - as well as the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on statistical methodology and other technical matters related to the collection, tabulation, and analysis of federal economic statistics.

Acting Deputy Secretary Blank Speaks at U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Women In Business and the Economy

Submitted on December 14, 2010 - 6:12pm
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WASHINGTON, December 14 — Commerce Acting Deputy Secretary Rebecca Blank discussed women in business at a forum today at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Blank highlighted key findings from a recent Commerce Department report on “Women-Owned Businesses in the 21st Century,” produced by ESA, and addressed the prospect and opportunities of starting a business in today’s economy.

ESA's White Receives 2010 Presidential Rank Award

Submitted on November 29, 2010 - 3:00pm

WASHINGTON, November 29 — Secretary Gary Locke and Acting Deputy Secretary Rebecca Blank join ESA in congratulating James K. (Kim) White for receiving the Presidential Distinguished Rank Award.  Conferred by the President of the United States, the Distinguished Rank Award is considered the Nation’s highest civil service award, recognizing the extraordinary accomplishments of a small number of career Senior Executive  Service leaders, professionals, and scientists who have consistently demonstrated excellence in results-oriented leadership and unsurpassed service to the nation.

Statement from Commerce Under Secretary Rebecca Blank on the Second Estimate of GDP in the Third Quarter of 2010

Submitted on November 23, 2010 - 6:41pm
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WASHINGTON, November 23 — The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis today released the second estimate of gross domestic product (GDP) for the third quarter of 2010. Real GDP grew at a 2.5 percent annual rate in the third quarter, revised up from the advance estimate of 2.0 percent and slightly higher than private-sector expectations of a 2.4 percent increase. The upward revision reflected data that were not available for the advanced estimate.

September Marks the Fifth Consecutive Month of Double-Digit Travel and Tourism Export Growth

Submitted on November 19, 2010 - 1:15pm
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According to newly released data from the Commerce Department, international visitors traveling to the United States pumped an estimated $11.7 billion into the U.S. economy during the month of September, up $1.7 billion compared to the same period last year. This marks the fifth month of double-digit growth and ninth straight month of overall growth in U.S. travel and tourism exports. Total travel and tourism-related exports have increased, on average, $1.2 billion a month in 2010. (More)

Commerce Department Under Secretary for Economic Affairs Rebecca Blank Named Acting Deputy Secretary

Submitted on November 18, 2010 - 1:00am

WASHINGTON, November 18 — The U.S. Commerce Department announced today that Rebecca Blank, currently the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs, will become its Acting Deputy Secretary. In her new, temporary role, she will focus on matters of management and policy for the department’s 12 bureaus, functioning as Commerce’s chief operating officer.

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