(WTVM) -
During the holiday season,
the last thing a shopper thinks about is where their gifts are made.
But while the country is
still trying to bounce back from a wallet crunching recession and a lack of
jobs, where the products we buy are made is something American economists say
we should consider.
That's why World News
Tonight with Diane Sawyer set out to challenge Americans to buy products made
in the good ole USA.
The same challenge we
brought to the attention of some local shoppers.
Where products are made is
something the majority of shoppers don't give much thought to, but when they
become aware that by buying products made in America, thousands of jobs can be
created and saved.
"I'm all about saving
jobs," said Khalefah Whitlock. "People need jobs. I'm all about the economy and
stuff like that."
Economists predict that
Americans will spend $700 each on holiday gifts this year.
While the amount people
spend during the holidays remains steady, their choices of buying American has
declined.
Back in the 1960's, 9 out
of every 10 holiday gifts we bought were made in America. Today more than half
of what we buy for the holidays is foreign-made.
To be more specific, Americans
spent $2.-5 billion on toys made in China last Christmas.
One economist who spoke
with World News Tonight says that amount was just spent on toys.
"That means we must
be spending 10 billion dollars or more during the Christmas season on Chinese
made goods that are as gifts."
"You never think
about it with the economy and everything going on, the price of gas, food and
everything that you can be making that difference, by just one product," said
Kim Jackson. "I will definitely make an effort to shop for made in America
products."
So remember the next time
you shop by buying at home, jobs can be saved at home.
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