Major TOM BRYANT (Spokesman, 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division): About a month ago, we started receiving intelligence from our Iraqi partners, reports that indicated a number of insurgents operating in this area northeast of Samarra, a very isolated, rural area, a lot of farms, a couple of small villages, but kind of a no man's land.

NPR: Ambitious U.S.-Iraqi Air Assault Targets Insurgents

The survey also indicated that the number of homes coming up for sale increased during November.

BBC: Surveyors indicate housing market optimism 'returning'

Some analysts said the import number indicated vibrant domestic demand, yet the big jump in imports was largely due to commodity purchases.

FORBES: China's Abnormal Trade Numbers for November