New U.S. Commerce Department Report: Manufacturing Jobs Provide Higher Pay, More Benefits
Manufacturing jobs becoming more skilled and heavily reliant on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.
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Statement from Commerce Secretary John Bryson on International Trade in Goods and Services in February 2012
U.S. Secretary of Commerce John Bryson issued the following statement today on the release of the February 2012 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services report (PDF) by the Commerce Department’s Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis. U.S. goods and services exports in February 2012 were up 0.1 percent from January 2012 to reach a record $181.2 billion. In addition, record highs were seen in U.S. exports of total services ($53.2 billion), and capital goods exports ($43.2 billion).
US Commerce Department Releases New Report Showing Intellectual Property-Intensive Industries Contribute $5 Trillion, 40 Million Jobs to US Economy
WASHINGTON, April 11, 2012 – The U.S. Commerce Department today released a comprehensive report, entitled “Intellectual Property and the U.S. Economy: Industries in Focus,” which finds that intellectual property (IP)-intensive industries support at least 40 million jobs and contribute more than $5 trillion dollars to, or 34.8 percent of, U.S. gross domestic product (GDP).
Statement from Commerce Secretary John Bryson on Retail Sales in February 2012
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.
Statement from Commerce Secretary John Bryson on International Trade in Goods and Services in January 2012
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.
Statement from Commerce Secretary John Bryson on Retail Sales in January 2012
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.
Statement from U.S. Commerce Secretary John Bryson on U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services in December 2011
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.
Economic Indicator: Private Sector Employment up 257,000 in January 2012
Some good news on the employment front! The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released their January 2012 report on the employment situation showing private sector employment increased 257,000 -- the largest increase since April 2011 (264,000). In addition, private sector employment gains were revised upward by 58,000 in November and 8,000 in December. Over the past 23 months, the private sector has added jobs every month for a total of nearly 3.7 million jobs.
Economic Indicator: Light Vehicle Sales Up at start of 2012
One of the first available indicators about the U.S. economy in 2012 is the measure of retail sales of light vehicles and the news is good: January saw new sales just under 14.2 million (at an annual rate), up from 13.6 in December 2011. This is highest monthly level since May 2008 (even higher than the August 2009 spike, or as I like to call it “Mount Cash-for-Clunkers”).