http://news.yahoo.com/made-china-goods-only-small-sliver-u-consumption-222755502.html

I find it hard to believe.

Something is wrong here, it would be nice if it were true, but I think they are tweaking a bit here.

Quotenondurable goods category that includes clothing and shoes.

Now when you think about it, how much do you spend each month on necessities?
I ask this because in truth, most of my budget goes toward gas and food, so in a sense the article is correct, that would be 90% of the household budget.

But, and there is a but here, a lot of what we buy as for appliances that have a Japanese label, how much of that was made in China?
I know that many of the Asian Countries are having a lot of their basic components built in China and sent back for the finishing product.

But just go to any store and you would be hard pressed to find "Made In America" on the label.

Quote from: elmerfudd on August 12, 2011, 06:14:08 PM
http://news.yahoo.com/made-china-goods-only-small-sliver-u-consumption-222755502.html

I find it hard to believe.

I don't.  It's probably quite accurate.  Over the last 5 years, the domestic market in China has exploded.  The US exports are now a small part of the Chinese GDP (they export more to the EU, SE Asia, and even Africa and South America).

Right now, we need the Chinese RMBs and money more than they need us as an export region.  Is there any question why they're now piping up about our debt and fiscal policies?

Quote from: Solar on August 12, 2011, 06:28:14 PM
Something is wrong here, it would be nice if it were true, but I think they are tweaking a bit here.Now when you think about it, how much do you spend each month on necessities?
I ask this because in truth, most of my budget goes toward gas and food, so in a sense the article is correct, that would be 90% of the household budget.

But, and there is a but here, a lot of what we buy as for appliances that have a Japanese label, how much of that was made in China?
I know that many of the Asian Countries are having a lot of their basic components built in China and sent back for the finishing product.

But just go to any store and you would be hard pressed to find "Made In America" on the label.

Good point.  But I notice that a good bit of my food comes from other countries, too.  Particularly frozen shrimp.  And fresh produce.  But not China, which was the subject at hand.    But I like it that way.  We conservatives believe in efficiency.

My biggest issue with Chinese goods is the low quality, but I don't blame the Chinese for that, they are only exporting what their buyers want.
If I can't find a better quality tool for example, I will buy Chinese, but when I need quality, I will go to the store that carries American made or European, even Japanese, for they are making some damn good crap.

Quote from: Solar on August 13, 2011, 01:34:51 PM
My biggest issue with Chinese goods is the low quality, but I don't blame the Chinese for that, they are only exporting what their buyers want.

THIS.

In my field, some of the highest-end products, renown for build quality, are made in the same factories that turn out absolute junk.  If you want junk, you get junk - at junk prices.  You want high-end, you get high-end - at high-end prices.

Most of the crap Harbor Freight tools roll from the same Chinese factories that make Craftsman and Jet and Porter Cable.  It's all about the design and materials spec'd for the production.

Quote from: Shanghai Dan on August 13, 2011, 04:05:41 PM
THIS.

In my field, some of the highest-end products, renown for build quality, are made in the same factories that turn out absolute junk.  If you want junk, you get junk - at junk prices.  You want high-end, you get high-end - at high-end prices.

Most of the crap Harbor Freight tools roll from the same Chinese factories that make Craftsman and Jet and Porter Cable.  It's all about the design and materials spec'd for the production.

Oh I know, they have the latest in machine tools for making everything from mixers to jet engines.
But it's the mentality that Americans want cheap, we don't, we want affordable quality.

I still have all my tools from when I was in construction 25 years ago, but if I were to replace them with the same name brand today, they just aren't as good.

I wish they would simply cut the crap and sell the highest quality possible.

Quote from: Solar on August 13, 2011, 06:44:04 PM
Oh I know, they have the latest in machine tools for making everything from mixers to jet engines.
But it's the mentality that Americans want cheap, we don't, we want affordable quality.

I still have all my tools from when I was in construction 25 years ago, but if I were to replace them with the same name brand today, they just aren't as good.

I wish they would simply cut the crap and sell the highest quality possible.

Yeah, that'll have to happen on the brand-end of things, not the factory.  And while I'm a value guy (highest quality at a fair price), too many are Walmart-type shoppers who will drive 30 miles and accept lower quality just to save $0.50...

I know people in Seattle who will drive to Portland to buy clothes or a TV to avoid sales tax.  When I point out they spent $60 in gas to save $40 in sales tax, there's always a blank look on their face...

Unfortunately, good values are hard to find - it's now down to the cheapest price only...:(