The U.S. Commerce Department’s Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis today released the balance of foreign trade for September 2012. The trade deficit narrowed 5.1 percent from August to September, to $41.5 billion–significantly better than market expectations that the monthly deficit would grow. Exports rose 3.1 percent, to $187.0 billion, and imports increased 1.5 percent, to $228.5 billion. Goods exports increased by $5.4 billion to a record high $134.0 billion. Services exports rose by $0.3 billion to $53.0 billion, also a record high. 

Acting U.S. Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank issued the following statement today on the release of the July 2012 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services report (PDF) (July 2012) by the Commerce Department’s Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis.  U.S. goods and services exports in July 2012 were down 1.0 percent from June 2012 to reach $183.3 billion and imports declined 0.8 percent to $225.3 billion.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Commerce Department’s U.S. Census Bureau today released new residential construction data for July 2012. Permits for new housing units were up 6.8 percent from June and up 29.5 percent from July 2011. Housing starts for July 2012 were down 1.1 percent from June, but up 21.5 percent from July 2011. 

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 2012. Real GDP grew 1.5 percent at an annual rate in the second quarter, consistent with private sector expectations.

WASHINGTON - The Commerce Department's U.S. Census Bureau today released June 2012 data on new residential construction. Housing starts in June 2012 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 760,000, up 6.9 percent from May’s revised estimate and up 23.6 percent from June 2011. Starts of multifamily structures increased 12.8%, and single-family starts rose 4.7%. Building permits for the month were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 755,000, down 3.7 percent from the revised May rate but up 19.3 percent from one year earlier.