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Blog Entries from November 2009

NOAA: Slow Atlantic Hurricane Season Comes to a Close

Submitted on November 30, 2009 - 3:17pm
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Map tracing paths of hurricanes. Click for full-size.

NOAA map

The 2009 Atlantic hurricane season officially ends today, marking the close of a season with the fewest named storms and hurricanes since 1997 thanks, in part, to El Niño. Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported nine named storms formed this year, including three hurricanes, two of which were major hurricanes at Category 3 strength or higher. These numbers fall within the ranges predicted in NOAA’s mid-season outlook issued in August, which called for seven to 11 named storms, three to six hurricanes, and one to two major hurricanes. (More)

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Thanksgiving Day 2009: Census Bureau National Holiday Facts and Features

Submitted on November 25, 2009 - 2:19pm
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Pumpkins on a crate and on ground. Click for larger image.

Census Bureau photo

In the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims, early settlers of Plymouth Colony, held a three-day feast to celebrate a bountiful harvest, an event many regard as the nation’s first Thanksgiving. Historians have also recorded ceremonies of thanks among other groups of European settlers in North America, including British colonists in Virginia in 1619. The legacy of thanks and the feast have survived the centuries, as the event became a national holiday in 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a national day of thanksgiving. (More Thanksgiving Day Facts and Figures)

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Statement from Under Secretary Blank on New Home Sales in October 2009

Submitted on November 25, 2009 - 12:07pm
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Department of Commerce seal

The Commerce Department’s U.S. Bureau of the Census today released new home sales figures for October 2009. Sales of new single-family houses rose 6.2 percent in October, compared with private-sector expectations of 0.5 percent. Sales have risen 30.7 percent above their low in January of this year, and the supply of unsold homes relative to sales has fallen 46.0 percent below its peak in January. (More) (Release)

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Statement from Under Secretary Blank on October 2009 Personal Income and Outlays

Submitted on November 25, 2009 - 10:38am
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Portrait of Under Secretary Blank.

The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis today released personal income and outlays for October 2009. Personal income rose 0.2 percent, real disposable personal income increased 0.2 percent, and real personal consumption expenditures advanced 0.4 percent. “Consumer spending began the fourth quarter with a favorable gain. Motor vehicles sales rebounded from their September fall after the ‘Cash for Clunkers’ program ended, and other purchases increased as well,” said Commerce Under Secretary Rebecca Blank. (More) (Release)

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Secretary Locke Visits Philadelphia to Raise Awareness of 2010 Census with Mayor Nutter

Submitted on November 24, 2009 - 11:35am
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Locke on podium. Click for larger image.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke joined Mayor Michael Nutter in Philadelphia to raise awareness of the upcoming 2010 Census. Speaking at the National Constitution Center, Locke discussed the history of the census and stressed the importance of getting a complete count of all residents in the city where our nation’s Founding Fathers penned the Constitution, which mandates that every person residing in the country be counted every ten years. U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah and Deputy Director of the U.S. Census Bureau Thomas L. Mesenbourg joined Locke and Nutter at the event. (2010Census.gov)

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Under Secretary Blank Statement on Second Estimate of Third Quarter GDP 2009

Submitted on November 24, 2009 - 11:31am
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DOC seal.

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 2009. Real GDP rose 2.8 percent at an annual rate, down moderately from the advance estimate of 3.5 percent. Most private analysts had expected a revision to 2.7 percent in the third quarter. (More) (Release)

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Secretary Locke Meets with Egypt's Minister of Trade and Industry Rachid

Submitted on November 23, 2009 - 1:00pm
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Locke and Rachid seen signing document. Click for larrger image.

U.S.Commerce Secretary Gary Locke hosted a meeting with Egypt’s Minister of Trade and Industry (MOTI), Mr. Rachid Mohamed Rachid, at the Commerce Department. This was the first meeting between the Secretary and Minister Rachid. Secretary Locke and Minister Rachid confirmed the importance of further strengthening the U.S.-Egypt commercial relationship and continuing to deepen cooperation on trade and investment issues. Egypt is one of the largest markets for U.S. exports in the Middle East, buying $6 billion of U.S. goods in 2008. (More) (MOI)

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Dr. Patrick Gallagher Sworn In as 14th Director of NIST

Submitted on November 20, 2009 - 1:51pm
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Portrait of Director Gallagher

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke swore in Patrick D. Gallagher, Ph.D., as the 14th Director of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). In remarks before hundreds of staff on the NIST campus, Locke said, “We are fortunate to have someone of Pat’s experience and expertise taking the helm at NIST, especially as this administration is working to accelerate the development of new technologies in areas like clean energy and efficiency.” (Remarks) (Director’s bio)

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Census: Homes with Cell Phones Nearly Double in First Half of Decade

Submitted on November 19, 2009 - 1:47pm
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U.S. Census seal

The number of households with cell phones increased from 36 percent to 71 percent between 1998 and 2005, according to new data released by Commerce’s U.S. Census Bureau. This corresponded with a decrease in households with telephone landlines, particularly households headed by young adults. These figures are part of an in-depth look at the living standards of U.S. households using extended measures of well-being. The data were collected in 2005 as part of the ongoing Survey of Income and Program Participation. (More)

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Secretary Locke Statement on President Obama's Intent to Nominate Lamb-Hale as Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing and Services

Submitted on November 18, 2009 - 7:00pm
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ITA logo.

President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate Nicole Y. Lamb-Hale to serve as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Manufacturing and Services within the International Trade Administration. “Our manufacturers and service providers have an excellent advocate in Ms. Lamb-Hale,” said U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke. “Nicole has firsthand knowledge of the challenges that our industries face and will be able to serve the interests of industry at every level.” (More)

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