“The critical role of manufactured goods is shown by the fact that they accounted for 62% of total exports in November,” says Frank Vargo, NAM’s vice president of international economic affairs. “The improvement in the manufactured goods trade balance accounted for virtually all of the $700 million November gain.
“November marked the 13th consecutive month that the growth of manufactured goods exports outpaced growth in imports, which is good news,” Vargo says. November 2006 manufactured goods exports were up 15% from November 2005, while manufactured goods imports were up 10%. Manufactured exports were paced by a 20% increase in exports of advanced technology products. All other manufactured goods exports were up 12%.