New orders for manufactured goods in August decreased $2.2 billion or 0.5 percent to $408.9 billion.

Total construction activity for August 2010 ($811.8 billion) was 0.4 percent above the revised July 2010 ($808.6 billion). Please see our web site for further details: http://www.census.gov/constructionspending

Sales of new one-family houses in August 2010 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 288,000. This is unchanged from the revised July 2010 estimate of 288,000.

New orders for manufactured durable goods in August decreased $2.5 billion or 1.3 percent to $191.2 billion.

Privately-owned housing starts in August 2010 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 598,000. This is 10.5 percent above the revised July 2010 estimate of 541,000.

After-tax profits for retail corporations with assets greater than $50 million averaged 3.0 cents per dollar of sales for the second quarter 2010 (the 3 months ending Jul. 31, 2010), up 0.1 (+/- 0.1) cents from the after-tax profits average of 2.9 cents for the first quarter 2010 (the 3 months ending Apr. 30, 2010).

U.S. total business sales for July 2010 were $1,090.0 billion, up 0.7% (±0.2%) from last month. Month end inventories were $1,375.7 billion, up 1.0% (±0.1%) from last month.

U.S. retail and food service sales for August reached $363.7 billion, a increase of 0.4 percent (±0.5%)* from the previous month.

Manufacturing corporations' seasonally adjusted after-tax profits averaged 8.4 cents per dollar of sales for the second quarter of 2010, up 0.4 (+/- 0.1) cents from the seasonally adjusted after-tax profits average of 8.0 cents for the first quarter of 2010.

July 2010 sales of merchant wholesalers were $350.1 billion, up 0.6 percent (+/-0.5%) from last month. End-of-month inventories were $405.0 billion, up 1.3 percent (+/-0.4%) from last month.

The Nation's international trade deficit in goods and services decreased to $42.8 billion in July 2010 from $49.8 billion in June (revised), as exports increased and imports decreased.

U.S. Information sector revenue for the second quarter of 2010, adjusted for seasonal variation but not for price changes, was $290.9 billion, a increase of 0.8 percent (+/- 0.3) from the first quarter of 2010.

Homeownership Rate (HR)
The homeownership rate in the second quarter 2010 (66.9 percent) was lower than the second quarter 2009 rate (67.4 percent). In the South and West, the homeownership rates were lower than a year ago, while the Northeast and Midwest showed no significant change from corresponding second quarter 2009 rates.

Rental Vacancy Rate (RVR)
The rental vacancy rate in second quarter 2010 (10.6 percent) remained approximately the same as the second quarter 2009 rate (also 10.6 percent).

Homeowner Vacancy Rate (HVR)
The homeowner vacancy rate in second quarter 2010 (2.5 percent) remained approximately the same as the second quarter 2009 rate (also 2.5 percent).