As we’ve previously reported online, the overall imports were up just 2% and exports down 5%. This is a sign not just of weak demand in the U.S., but also a sign that globalization overall has lost some steam - at least in the first half.

Perhaps a significant jolt in consumer activity in and outside can boost these numbers during the second half, but it would have to be just that – significant.

On the export side, which fuels the growth of many domestic manufacturers, much of the drop in demand came from Canada and the U.K. (each down 5%), China (down 19%) and Saudi Arabia (down 17%).

The last time we checked with some domestic producers, these were indeed some of the growth markets for exports. The good news is that there were some increases in exports to Mexico (up 21%) and Japan (up 108%).

(Source: furnituretoday.com  Author: Thomas Russell)