THE TRICK TO FINDING A RELIABLE SUPPLIER OVERSEAS
This week, Adam Fein in his Distribution Trends blog addresses a common question: How to find a reliable supplier of private label products. He points readers to an IndustryWeek article on online overseas sourcing that lists a number of sites that may (or may not) help you to find a reliable supplier. Fein also refers to this Financial Times column, which says the falling dollar is actually good for American companies that must compete against the Chinese and other low-cost imports. More...

Keep reading: More on the state of the economy and the declining dollar below.

EXPORT GROWTH KEEPS U.S. ECONOMY HUMMING
The U.S. trade deficit is shrinking, according to recently released trade data from the Department of Commerce. This article from the Christian Science Monitor speculates that U.S. companies, faced with slower growth stateside, are targeting foreign buyers. In addition, the dollar's value has fallen about 9% this year, which makes American products more competitive overseas. The chief economist at Moody's tells the CS Monitor: "Exports have suddenly become a key source of growth at a time when the economy is looking for any growth it can get."

The largest U.S. exports last year: nuclear reactors, electrical machinery, vehicles, airplanes and medical equipment. And in an interesting twist, the U.S. is exporting lumber to Canada for the first time in 25 years. More...

Economic Indicators, updated monthly, at the MDM Databank.

CARGO TRAFFIC FALLS THANKS TO DECLINES IN CERTAIN SECTORS
Here's an LA Times article on a drop in cargo traffic at two of the area's major ports. The article also states that imports of building materials "plunged" 20% in the second quarter from the year before. Furniture imports fell 17%, clothing fell 10% and footwear was down 8%, all indicators of the decline in the housing sector and in consumer spending. More ...

MAPI BUSINESS OUTLOOK LOOKS STABLE
Despite mixed signals in the economy, the latest Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI Survey on the Business Outlook contends that U.S. manufacturing should maintain its growth trend in the near term. Still, six out of 10 factors measured by the quarterly survey, including the annual orders index and the backlogs index, showed declines from the previous report. More ...

STEEL DISTRIBUTORS MAY FACE A ROUGH 2008
According to one presenter at the recent Association of Steel Distributors' fall meeting, declining consumer spending is likely to fall in 2008 as low as it was in 1981, and that will weaken industrial steel-using markets including automotive, housing and appliances, Purchasing magazine reports. Purchasing's executive editor told the meeting that U.S. and Canadian steel demand will vary by product in the near-term, but will be lower again in 2008. He projects a 6% decline in major appliance shipments and no growth in machinery manufacture. More ...

Most Popular Stories at mdm.com