California exports in May drop

for seventh month in row
The Associated Press
10:25 a.m. July 10, 2009

SACRAMENTO — California exports fell 25.2 percent in May, the seventh straight month of decline compared to the same period a year earlier. The University of California Center Sacramento says the state sent $9.5 billion worth of products abroad in May. That's down from $12.7 billion a year ago and is the lowest for May since 2004. Exports of manufactured goods dropped 28 percent. Agricultural and other non-manufactured goods dropped 23.3 percent. Jock O'Connell, the UC Center's adviser on international trade and economics, said the figures "offer no encouragement that economic recovery will be a near-term thing." The figures were based on data released Friday by the U.S. Commerce Department.