This Week - Data Releases for the Week Ending November 11, 2011

by Valorie Hanni Rice
Reference Librarian

Arizona Department of Revenue released September retail sales on November 9th. The data showed that retail spending was up 8.8% compared to the same time last year. This was the third month in a row that spending increased over the prior year.

U.S. international trade in goods and services for September were released on November 10th.  The U.S. trade balance improved as exports increased by $2.5 billion while imports increased by $0.7 billion.  Total September exports were $180.4 billion and imports were $223.5 billion.  Both exports and imports were up for the year (15.9% and 11.9%, respectively).

Initial applications for unemployment benefits fell this week to a seasonally adjusted 390,000, which is the lowest it has been since April.  The four-week average fell to 400,000.

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