Good Growth!

The combination of November exports reaching an all-time high of $194.9 billion, the trade deficit narrowing to just $34.25 billion, its lowest level since 10/09, November’s factory orders rising 1.8% and October’s factory orders upward revision of 0.4%, and strong consumer spending is making me raise my Q4 GDP forecast to 3.1%. In Q3, GDP…

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Goods Going Global

While manufacturing and exports have helped lead the nation out of the financial crisis, the importance of manufactured exports on state economies varies tremendously. TX leads the way with almost $9,000 per capita in manufactured exports, with LA next at $7,700, followed by WA at $7,193 and VT at $6,615. NM is lowest at $933,…

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Trade Deficit Dynamics

The March trade deficit fell by 2.6% but, hold the applause. Imports fell 1.7% due to a fall in demand for crude oil. Exports fell 1.4% as US auto, industrial machinery & food products fell. As if the decline in exports was not bad enough, for the first few months of ’11 the deficit is…

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