U.S. exports down 2.3% in June
The U.S. Commerce Department reported Thursday that the country's exports of goods and services in June slipped 2.3 percent from May to $170.9 billion.
U.S. imports of goods and services decreased 0.8 percent over this period to $223.9 billion, causing the U.S. trade deficit to increase 4.4 percent since May to reach $53.1 billion in June.
Overall, U.S. goods and services exports in the first half of 2011 are up 15.8 percent to $1,027.9 billion from the $887.6 billion in exports in first half of 2010.
“Exports remain a driving force in our economy,' said Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank, in a statement. 'Although numbers in June were lower than we’d hoped, exports have grown at a steady pace for the first half of this year, posting 15.8 percent growth over last year. We are on pace to meet the president’s National Export Initiative of doubling exports by 2015.'