In November, California led the nation in total exports ($12.8 billion) using the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ (BEA) U.S. Principal Parties of Interest (USPPI) series. Texas had the second highest total export value for the month ($11.7 billion). Year-over-year, California’s total exports increased by +9.7% while Texas’ total exports increased by +5.9%. In the area of manufactured exports, Texas edged out California with $9.6 billion versus $9.0 billion (year-over-year increases of +5.0% and +9.7% respectively). Year-to-date (YTD), total California exports increased by +7.6% (to $117.7 billion) compared with the first eleven months of 2006.

The California Employment Development Department (EDD) released December unemployment estimates last week.  Seasonally adjusted, the Los Angeles County unemployment rate was 5.6%, up from 5.3% in November, from 5.1% in October, and from 4.5% a year earlier.  December was the seventh consecutive month that the County’s unemployment rate increased over the previous year.