Posted on 07/21/2023 9:58:48 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Do American citizens care where their products come from? Well, it depends on who you ask.
Over the past few decades, the importance of “Made in America”—labels on products indicating production was done in the U.S.—has ebbed and flowed.
As China has grown into the United States’ economic rival and geopolitical adversary, the distinction between American-made and Chinese-made has resurfaced, even as some products have been mislabeled or locally produced but Chinese-owned.
How do people currently feel? This chart uses survey responses from May 2023 out of Morning Consult, in which a representative sample of 1,000 U.S. adults were questioned on whether they had favorable views of products from U.S. companies using American or Chinese labor and parts.
According to the report, companies that choose to move production state-side will experience reputational gains with American consumers.
In fact, around two-thirds of survey respondents said they regularly sought out products that were “Made in America” during the last year. But there were slight divides in gender (men favored American-made products more) and noticeable divides in generational responses.
Here’s a look at the data on how different demographic groups valued national goods:
| Generation | Favorable View of Chinese-Made Products | Favorable View of American-Made Products |
|---|---|---|
| Gen Z | 41% | 45% |
| Millennials | 40% | 67% |
| Gen X | 29% | 71% |
| Boomers | 12% | 83% |
| U.S. Adults Total | 29% | 70% |
Overall, thee older generations like baby boomers tend to be more patriotic in their purchasing opinions, with Gen Z being the least concerned with Chinese products.
On the political spectrum, both Democrats and Republicans had the exact same share of respondents who favor American-made products at 76%. Comparatively, only 57% of independents favored American-made products, though they also responded least favorably to Chinese-made products at 22%.
One other interesting point to come out of the survey: close to 50% of consumers said they would actually be willing to pay more for American-made products.
Looking at responses from U.S. adults overall, large shares of consumers are leaning towards domestic-made goods. Here are some additional insights worth considering:
Overall, it appears that “in-house” goods are more desirable to Americans in the current environment. This also explains why regionalization is becoming more important for companies, whether in terms of reshoring (or onshoring) production back to America, or “nearshoring” to Mexico and closer neighbors.
It means something to me. Both in buying production and hiring people. Easier said than done though.
Labels said “Made in USA”, not “Made in America” which could mean anywhere on the continent.
Every group says they want more products made in the United States.
“The rub” is who wants to find employment in the manufacturing sector.
Does “Made in America” Still Matter to Consumers?
_____________________________________
Only if consumers want to pay double the price for half the quality for products made by unionists.
Yeah my smart phone made have been made in China by people lucky enough to make $5.00 per day. But at least it works. And I didn’t have to pay $5,000 for it.
Enough with the stereotype. Bad enough that US auto manufacturers helped perpetuate that.
A NOT MADE in a US Peoples’ Republic label would work for me.
/sarc
Avery (Koop) has earned both her BA and MA in International Affairs, the latter from Carleton University, as well as her MS in Journalism from Columbia University in New York City.Never mind quoting Mourning Consult polls as if they were gospel.
Prior to joining Visual Capitalist, she worked as a correspondent in Asia compiling special business reports for the South China Morning Post.
It’s Avery’s goal to explain complex issues in international relations, business, trade, and demographics through data, with a particular focus on the U.S.
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/author/avery/
Rent free in head? Thread not about him.
Heck YES!!!!!!!
I check everything these days.
I do my level best to avoid Chinese made, and also Pakistan made. They hate us too.
“Yeah my smart phone made have been made in China by people lucky enough to make $5.00 per day. But at least it works. And I didn’t have to pay $5,000 for it.”
I’m with you on that, and pretty much say the same. Put up trade barriers and yes, people can be forced to buy American. But then the unions would, again, OWN THE COUNTRY, as they could bring whatever manufacturer to their knees. Likewise, some of our INSANE regulations will further drive up the costs.
So, until we can elect people ready to make the US competitive again, my clear preference is to have foreign products remain available.
So we need “Not made by Commies” labels.
Rent free in head? Thread not about him.
*************
They’ve allowed the Trump Era to turn themselves into basket cases.
They should start posting on Dailey Kos, where they’d feel right at home.....sort of a group therapy session.
“So, until we can elect people ready to make the US competitive again, my clear preference is to have foreign products remain available.”
Unions, over regulation, and Democrats have destroyed our economy. Until we fix that we are screwed. I do my best not to buy Chinese, but won’t hesitate to buy shoes from Bangladesh, car parts from Mexico, or towels and sheets from the Philippines.
Democrat union bastards Fuked the USA.
Certain things like small appliances, toaster, 100V electric kettle, microwave oven, it’s almost impossible to buy made in any 1st world country.
This will come to an end if/when the US dollar crashes. The imports won’t be so cheap then.
It matters to me. I try to find US made products whenever I can, and avoid China purchases. If I purchase a product online that is listed as made in a particular country (say a tool made in Japan or Taiwan) but I receive a Chinese product, I return it immediately.
1. Made in the USA.
2. Made in North America, Europe, Japan, Taiwan or any West friendly country.
3. Anywhere but China (and a few other adversarial countries).
4. China is a last resort.
If China is the only source for an item, I reevaluate if I really need it. More manufacturers are moving out of China, so finding things made “anywhere but China” is getting easier.
Better question... Are any consumer goods still made in the USA?
You can’t do much more than you’re doing.
It should be pretty clear that sending our supply chains that deep into Asia is having huge ramifications. As you noted some positive changes are happening, albeit at an incremental pace.
Do we need to make everything here? No
Should we be doing more here? Yes
It's difficult to avoid China-made. Often times I'll do without if that's an option. I don't completely exclude China but I do check and will prefer most anything else of equal value for common goods.
My mother used to suggest Mexican made over Chinese made as an incentive to keep jobs in Mexico. I still follow that rubric.
If something is US made by a small business I'm more interested than something from Detroit which is probably rebadged something else.
I don't like the scam of treating "North American" as equal to Made in USA. It's a lie. Canada isn't the USA.
I don't trust China. Over my lifetime, they have demonstrated a habit of shipping defective things, unsafe things (like BPA bottles), insecure things, low quality things and then there's their inexcusable behavior over Covid-19.
There's really not another manufacturing country that I prefer to avoid like China. Their sketchy reputation has been earned.
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