California's merchandise export trade in March spiked 25.7 percent over the same month last year, according to figures released today. The state shipped $12.37 billion in goods abroad in March, up from $9.84 billion in March 2009, according to an analysis of U.S. Commerce Department figures by Beacon Economics, an economic consulting firm with offices in the Bay Area and Los Angeles. March marked the fifth consecutive month of year-over-year increases in California's export trade. Analysts noted that while the March gains were substantial, 2009 was a dismal year for trade, and California exports are still below pre-recession levels.