Calif. exports drop for sixth month in row

The Associated Press
2:33 p.m. June 10, 2009

SACRAMENTO — California's export market fell 25.5 percent in April from the same period last year, the sixth straight monthly decline and the sharpest drop yet.

The University of California Center Sacramento says the state exported products worth $9.2 billion in April, down from $12.4 billion in the same period a year ago.

Overseas shipments of manufactured goods dropped 27.6 percent. Exports of agricultural products and non-manufactured goods fell 27.9 percent.

Jock O'Connell, the UC Center's adviser on international trade and economics, says California "plumbed new depths" in April after seeing an average 20 percent decline in the first quarter. Exports haven't been this low since April 2005.

The figures were based on data released Wednesday by the U.S. Commerce Department.

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