Total US goods trade (exports and imports) through California ports edged down to 17.54% (12 month moving average; compared to 17.67% in Nov 2019 and 18.15% in Dec 2018).

California remained the #2 state, behind Texas with 17.90% (compared to 17.79% in Nov 2019 and 17.57% in Dec 2018). Trade through the Atlantic port states was at 29.88% (compared to 29.86% in Nov 2019 and 29.3% in Dec 2018). The state’s continued lead in this area forms the trade-related base for one of California’s largest centers of middle-class, blue-collar jobs. Transportation & Warehousing continued rising with 653,500 jobs in Dec (up from 641,600 in Dec 2018), paying an average annual salary of $63.5k. This employment base in turn supports additional blue-collar and white-collar jobs in a range of other industries.

 Total California goods exports were up $0.1 billion from Dec 2018 (up 0.6%). California remained in 2nd place with 10.54% of all US goods exports (12 month moving total), behind Texas at 20.09%.

California’s balance of goods trade activity through state businesses dropped to -$19.1 billion, compared to a level of -$22.9 billion in Dec 2018. California trade accounted for 29% of the US trade deficit in goods in Dec 2019.