New federal data released this week gives more indication that Ohio’s economy is improving.
The latest report from the Federal International Trade Administration shows if current trends hold, Ohio will export a record amount of goods in 2013. In the first half of the year, Ohio exported just over 25 billion dollars worth of merchandise-an all-time high for the state at this point in the year.
“When you look back in 2008 and 2009 with the economic downturn, our exports had really decreased in those years, and now that we’ve surpassed where we were in 2007, it shows that we’re really on the road to recovery. Exports is a very good marker for the economy,” says Sue Whitney, director of the U.S. Export Assistance Center in Cleveland.
The state’s airplane, automotive, and chemical industries were the biggest contributors.
Whitney attributes Ohio’s exporting boost-in part-to President Obama’s national push to encourage exports.
Ohio sends the most goods to Canada, Mexico, and China.