Posted on 05/02/2005 9:34:06 AM PDT by 1rudeboy
Look, ISM reports that the furniture sector is expanding. ISM goes by SIC classifications . . . for all we know the sector includes the manufacturing of lighting. Making your fixation on the North Carolina furniture industry, well, odd.
DO NOT CONFUSE THIS NATIONAL REPORT with the various regional purchasing reports released across the country. The national report's information reflects the entire United States, while the regional reports cover only their local vicinity. Also, the information in the regional reports is not used in calculating the results of the national report. The information compiled in this report is for the month of April 2005.
check out where most of the lighting at Home Depot and Lowes are made.
From your article:The North Carolina economy, like the national economy, is going through structural change in which jobs in such key industries as textile and furniture manufacturing that required lots of labor are being shipped to countries where pay is low.
Now, do you want me to explain how manufacturing output and manufacturing employment are two different things?
well, if robots were making the furniture in the USA - I assume they wouldn't paste the "made in china" labels on those pieces when I see them in the store. the only way output can be up, while furniture employment is in such steep decline, would be through automation.
yes, facts are good. but common sense and observations are also important.
Thanks for the LOL. I'd miss Willie if he ever left for good. Who else would be deeply saddened at good news?
(From what I understand he's moving and so is not online for a few weeks until he gets unpacked again.)
Well, there you go. Finally got one right!!!
yes, facts are good. but common sense and observations are also important.
And if you used them more often, you wouldn't sounds so silly, so often.
so where is all this made in the USA furniture assembled by robots?
the truth is, offshoring destroys what would be the normal business investment cycles in automation. sure, I would like to see robotic furniture factories - in north carolina. then at least we could accept the job losses there. but we don't have that.
its the same in other industries. why doesn't anyone invest in new machines to harvest crops like tomatoes and lettuce? why bother, when mexican migrants work for a few $$$s a day. why doesn't AMEX invest in fully automated natural language customer service capabilities? why bother, when you can hire an agent in India for $15K per year. and on and on.
access to low cost global labor pools ruins what would be the normal business cycles of technology and automation investment. what we should have is a huge "automation industry" being developed here in the US providing the productivity gains for businesses to shed these low productivity jobs like furniture assembly and customer support. But we don't, instead we just get the jobs offshored, and nothing in exchange except for a few more millionaire corporate executives.
You tell me. You're the expert on furniture. You were sure the ISM report was wrong. Prove it wrong.
what we should have is a huge "automation industry" being developed here in the US providing the productivity gains for businesses to shed these low productivity jobs like furniture assembly and customer support.
Ummm, haven't you whined before about all the manufacturing job losses? I think manufacturing accounts for more $$$ in our economy than ever before. I'd say we already have a huge "automation industry". That's how your complaint about employment and rude's and my point about output can be correct at the same time.
was I imagining all those "made in china" labels on the boxes?
Dunno. Were you drinking?
I just came back from "Roomful Express" because it's 1/2 mile down from my office. 45-50% of wood furniture is made in china except for sofas.
rude and todd will say post proof. I have proof. Go to you local Roomful Express and see for yourself.
I refer you to reply #12. You might also wish to re-visit your definition of "proof."
costco and walmart too, as well as the other price club stores selling furniture. I like buying unfinished all wood furniture (made in the US and Canada) and staining it myself.
Let's see, 1 man with very weak math abilities has gone to 1 store to count how much furniture was made in China. Yeah, that's proof that the furniture industry in the US didn't grow in the month of April. Right!
Who needs proof when I see it in front of my face? [chuckle]
He went to WalMart and started counting items on the shelves. He estimated 65-75% of it's products were made in China. How high do you think he counted? 40 or 50? LOL! At least he didn't say that 180% of the items were from China. We know his margin of error is pretty high.
I'm still waiting for you to come to my local walmart and bring $1000 cash. How come you won't take me up on it??
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