The U.S. Census Bureau released its Merchandise Trade data numbers on February 11th for December 2010. The Merchandise Trade balance increased 6.4% over last December and fell 11.6% from the previous month. Imports dropped 1.5% from November and gained 14.3% over last year, while exports rose by 3.6% from the previous month and 17.9% over December 2009.

Below is an in-depth breakdown of the U.S. Census Merchandise Trade data. This month we have highlighted 5 interesting items that we found while looking at December's data; here are the highlights:

1. Trade protectionism will rise
2. The supply of containers could impact exports more than increased manufacturing
3. Concentration of imports shifting to ports East of the Panama Canal
4. Inflationary pressures on the dollar could tamp down both import and export growth
5. Housing could still be the anchor dragging the U.S. back to another recession
   

Click here for Zepol's U.S. Census Merchandise Trade Data Update for December 2010