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    'Made in China' Goods Only Small Sliver of U.S. Consumption

    'Made in China' Goods Only Small Sliver of U.S. Consumption

    Politicians and pundits talk often talk of the undue sway Chinese businesses have over American consumers without the hard numbers to back up claims. So Galina Hale and Bart Hobijn, two economists from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, have stepped in to do the mathematical heavy-lifting. What they've found is that only 2.7 percent of U.S. consumers purchases have the "Made in China" label.

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    "Although globalization is widely recognized these days, the U.S. economy actually remains relatively closed," the authors write in a recent report. 88.5 percent of Americans' consumer spending is on things made in the U.S. In the U.S. market, China only had the edge over domestic businesses in the nondurable goods category that includes clothing and shoes. It also, unsurprisingly, does well in the U.S. in the groups of goods that include electronics and household appliances.

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    But China doesn't come that close in any other category. Even of the 2.7 percent of "Made in China" goods, only 1.2 percent represents "China-produced content," the authors write. (That's the "Final goods imported from China" category in the chart above.) The rest goes into things like American design and assembly and transocean transport. Just something to remember next try time you hear someone cursing a "Made in China" label.

     

    2,533 comments

    • Spence  •  8 mths ago
      This writer and column was:
      "MADE IN CHINA"
    • Eric  •  9 mths ago
      I understand the readers confusion about where americans spend there money at first I was shocked at the low percent but then I thought about where I spend my money and I can say 90 to 95% does not go to China.My rent is $2400 food is 600 to 800 gas electric phone eating out dancing drinking and movies and all my money is gone there is no money left to buy made in china stuff
    • Karen  •  9 mths ago
      BULL!!!
      • The Truth 9 mths ago
        That sums it up. Slanted toward Chineese paid writers at the Atlantic Wire or maybe they should be called the Pacific Connection.
      • Trapped in Paradise 9 mths ago
        I'd like to see where we get the other stuff. Not from the USA thats for sure. A lot of my linens are made in Egypt and India.
      • Adam 9 mths ago
        Well said, down to the point
    • Lothar....of the Hill Peo ...  •  9 mths ago
      Assembled, packaged - doesn't count - resources flow there and so does our recycling, scrap, ore, and what comes back is something that breaks, can't be fixed, only replaced. And we pay for shipping both ways with fuel and security costs
    • Dedra  •  9 mths ago
      I am a label reader and try to buy American made or, if I am desperate, simply non-Chinese made. I have a total of maybe 15 clothing items made in the USA--and those are either uniform type clothes or old clothes that I've kept since the last millenium. America is getting stronger in the plastics area, but most stuff I find is NOT made in the USA. I also live in a rural area that has basically Walmart and Dollar General to shop at within a 100 mile radius. Both carry a great deal of Chinese goods.
    • r41n3y  •  9 mths ago
      This article is lacking essential details. Readers need to know just what purchases were examined. I purchase many services that are definitely American made - home, life and auto insurance, new roof, hair styling, telephone and internet services. Yet I am hard pressed to find goods - dishes, clothes, electronics, appliances - that are made in the USA. Most of the items I pick up are made in China. Even some of our canned food come from China ( apple juice anyone?)This article does not detail where 97.3% of our spending goes. For many people, their discretionary spending has been reduced because of the rising cost of food and fuels. Even so 2.7% of our spending leaving the country is huge. Statistics can be skewed.
      • Pelosi Blinked 9 mths ago
        Excellent points.
      • The Divine Immortal 9 mths ago
        You sir , are among the few . I shower you with praise , adoration and even coupons . Thank you for showing me some people are with it .
      • Barie 9 mths ago
        Intelligent posting, you get 5 gold stars today!!
    • Regular Guy  •  9 mths ago
      I find this story very hard to believe!
      • Chex Mix 9 mths ago
        We all do.
      • bubsir 9 mths ago
        If you accept that my house is "american made" it represents well over 90% of my "purchases"
      • Telestai 9 mths ago
        But until very recently, toxic Chinese drywall was used in American homes; replacing the s**t is prohibitively expensive, and China REFUSES to compensate buyers for their losses, as well as for the cascade of health problems caused by China's inferior goods and total lack of concern for PEOPLE.
    • John S  •  9 mths ago
      So China only leads in nondurable goods. It does "well" in durable goods such as electronics. Try finding a U.S. made iPod. You'll have more luck finding a U.S. made unicorn.
      • Harry Johnson 9 mths ago
        Only a tiny fraction of the value of an iPod is created in/by China (also almost all the profit goes to a U.S. corporation.)
      • biggil 9 mths ago
        Love the dog.
      • John S 9 mths ago
        A U.S. corporation basing its manufacturing in China, creating opportunities in China that are given to Chinese workers. This isn't the Olympics. We don't get a medal because someone local finished in first place. That money mainly stays in China and the Cayman Islands and Switzerland where Apple hides its profits from taxation. The only Americans who benefit from the iPod made in China are Americans invested in Apple stock. It's better for American workers to buy a Toyota made in Tennessee than a Ford made in Mexico.
    • box of rocks  •  9 mths ago
      This article was made in China.
      • thirdbase 9 mths ago
        Paid for by china anyway, do the article authors imagine they have cred with such statements?
      • wardog 9 mths ago
        Paid for by US to CHINA. B.O.R.-That was a good post LOL. YOU are very smart for what you undeservingly call yourself. :o)
      • oneiotaofacracker 9 mths ago
        Now that's a good one, rock on
    • Hunter  •  9 mths ago
      I call shenanigans on that. Then tell me where I can find goods "MADE IN USA", because I cant seem to find anything. Also, tell me a Customer Service number I can call and theres a American on the other end. Not "Steve" in India.
    • Ronson  •  9 mths ago
      This is SO MUCH Hog wash... It ain't even funny... I can fip over any product in any Americans home, and it will be MADE IN CHINA.... Better than 90% of that product will say those words...

      Flip over FORD TRUCK... It is stamped full with PARTS Made in CHINA
    • A Yahoo! User  •  9 mths ago
      What a bunch of B U L L !!! Everything I buy, is made in China. From computer to toothbrush to power tools. Recently bought some plywood at LOWES...made in china.
      This is a very effective way, to bring a country down! Food is next. (It has already started, read the labels)
    • sbr  •  9 mths ago
      I call bulls**t. I challenge you to go pick up anything in your house. 9 chances out of 10 it is made in China.
    • Rick  •  9 mths ago
      How then, is our trade deficit so large?
    • Bottom Dweller  •  9 mths ago
      Out of respect to Galina Hale and Bart Hobijn, I did have Chinese take out last week that was made in the USA,.
    • Mark  •  9 mths ago
      What a load of garbage.
    • Danny383  •  9 mths ago
      I don't believe this for a second, unless by purchases they also include 'food purchases'....because lord knows Americans by a LOT of food...and it ain't from China.
    • TADPOLE  •  9 mths ago
      HAD A HOUSE FIRE LAST YEAR, HAD TO REPLACE EVERTHING, ABOUT THE ONLY MADE IN USA ITEMS WERE THE MATTRESS'S AND BOX SPRINGS, ALL FURNITURE, APPLIANCES, FLOOR TILE, BATHROOM TILE, BEDDING ACCESSORIES, PICTURES, CLOCKS, ETC ALL MADE IN CHINAL. I'D SAY 2.7 PERCENT IS US GOODS 97.3 CHINA
    • Common Sense Guy  •  9 mths ago
      What are these people smoking? Where do they shop. The laptop I am using is made overseas, the TV I am watching is made overseas, the cup I am drinking out of is made overrseas - by the way all from China.
    • UnclePuck  •  9 mths ago
      Do these people live in the real world? Where do they shop? I'd love to buy American made products!
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