Les USA sont de retour

[Malek]

Un fil sur notre plus grand partenaire commercial!

 

Les américains sont de retour en force, l'industrie manufacturière retourne aux USA et il y a beaucoup de nouvelles sur ce sujet qu'on tentera de placer dans ce fil!

[Malek]

US-built Corollas will soon be exported to Latin America, Caribbean

 

Toyota has announced plans to export the American-made Corolla south, to 18 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean by 2014. The move follows statements made to The Wall Street Journal by Toyota's South American leader, Steve St. Angelo, that spoke to Toyota's resolve in emerging American markets.

 

Toyota is expected to begin export production in April, with initial production of 7,500 Corollas in the first year, courtesy of its Tupelo, Mississippi assembly plant. Years of unpredictable swings in the value of the Japanese yen has seen Toyota push its manufacturing operations in other countries, particularly the US, where its builds ten different models.

 

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/09/29/us-built-corollas-exported-to-latin-america-caribbean/

[Malek]

US auto sales look to hit 16 million in 2014

 

 

America's automotive industry continues to boom, with analysts predicting that sales in 2014 will reach over 16 million units while marking just the second time since World War II that the industry has seen five consecutive years of growth. The estimates, if correct, would represent a 500,000-unit improvement over the current projections for 2013.

 

What's remarkable, though, is how the industry is achieving this growth. Two things set this boom apart from the last time we saw five consecutive years of growth, 1996 to 2000. First, it's the vehicles being sold. In those halcyon days of cheap gas and cheaper interiors, the Detroit Three were shifting record numbers of trucks and SUVs while the humble car languished. The industry also offered heavy incentives to move metal and keep supplies at appropriate levels. An over-reliance on fleet sales also artificially inflated sales figures.

 

Industry watchers say this boom is very different, though. Big-name market segments are swelling with contenders that are better than they've ever been before. The Detroit Three are genuinely competitive in the midsize and compact sedan segment and are maintaining dominance over the fullsize pickup truck market, while Japanese control is also being challenged by a pair of able-bodied Korean brands.

 

Vehicle prices, rather than incentives, are increasing, while fleet sales have been trimmed dramatically. "You see a rising level of competitiveness for the domestics across the whole industry, which is forcing the Asians to be more aggressive just to maintain where they are," said Tom Libby, an RL Polk analyst that spoke with Automotive News. George Magliano, Chief Economist at IHS Automotive, meanwhile, told AN the growth was "coming effortlessly."

 

The industry is facing issues that may cause problems in the future, however. In some cases, vehicle supplies are extremely low due to the booming demand (not to mention the fallout from automakers' drive to reduce production capacity during the crisis). This is part of the reason prices are climbing so quickly – manufacturers need to perform a difficult balancing act between maintaining availability without flooding the market and pushing down prices. There's also concern over growing sub-prime loans, for reasons that shouldn't need explaining. But despite these worries, the market is more competitive than it's ever been, and while prices may be high, the competition appears to be nothing but good news for consumers.

 

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/09/16/us-auto-sales-to-hit-16-million-2014/

[Malek]

Nissan poised to nearly double exports from US by 2015 [w/video]

As a part of a plan to double its US export volume by 2015, Nissan started shipping 2014 Pathfinder SUVs from its plant in Smyrna, TN to Australia and New Zealand. These Pathfinders are not only the first right-hand-drive models Nissan has exported from the US, but their 10,000-mile journey through the Gulf of Mexico and across the Pacific is also the automaker's furthest export.

 

Products from the Smyrna plant are exported to 61 different countries, and Nissan's export volume from the US will account for around 14 percent of its production this year, which is two percent more than 2012. Helping all this is the fact that by early next year, Nissan's production in North and South America will top two million units thanks to added capacity in the US and new plants in Mexico and Brazil. An official video made to look like a news feature joins the press release from Nissan posted below.

 

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/08/27/nissan-exports-from-us-pathfinder-video/

[Malek]

U.S. Manufacturers Gain Ground

Narrower Trade Deficit on Factory Goods Is a Sign of a New Competitive Edge

 

After more than a decade of losing ground to China and other export powerhouses, U.S. manufacturers are finally showing signs of regaining their competitive edge.

 

The U.S. deficit on trade of manufactured goods in this year's first half shrank to $225 billion from $227 billion a year earlier, according to data compiled by Ernest Preeg, an economist and trade expert at the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation, an industry-funded research group in Arlington, Va. The improvement, while slight, came after years of ballooning deficits as the U.S. lost manufacturing business to China, South Korea and other nations.

 

 

"It's a hopeful sign," said Mr. Preeg, who derives his tally of manufactured-goods trade from official U.S. data, leaving out other types of merchandise, such as grain or coal. "At least we've leveled off."

 

His findings come as Boston Consulting Group—a leading proponent of the idea that U.S. manufacturing will come roaring back—predicts a surge in U.S. exports, partly helped by lower energy costs and stagnating wages. In a report for release Tuesday, BCG says rising exports and "reshoring" of production to the U.S. from China "could create 2.5 million to five million American factory and service jobs associated with increased manufacturing" by 2020. That, BCG says, could reduce the unemployment rate, currently 7.4%, by as much as two to three percentage points.

 

China, India and Brazil are disappointing investors. Manufacturing and export growth have slowed in all three countries. Why are stocks from developing countries doing better than those from the major developing economies? WSJ's Jason Bellini has #TheShortAnswer. Image: Getty

 

The overall U.S. trade deficit, meanwhile, narrowed recently, as new shale-drilling technologies have sharply boosted domestic energy production.

 

At present, about 12 million Americans are directly employed by manufacturers, down from nearly 17 million two decades ago. The Obama administration has made a manufacturing recovery a top priority, and major corporations are striving to showcase their efforts to create manufacturing jobs. On Thursday, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. WMT -0.35% is due to host 500 suppliers in Orlando, Fla., to discuss its "commitment to leading an American renewal in manufacturing" by buying more U.S.-made goods.

 

Europe's long-running slump, slower growth in China and a stronger dollar have been headwinds for U.S. exporters, but many have managed to expand overseas sales.

 

Harley-Davidson Inc. HOG +0.03% continues to add dealers abroad. "We're very excited about the growth prospects in our international businesses," John Olin, chief financial officer, told analysts last month. The Milwaukee-based company recently said retail motorcycle sales jumped 12% in the Asian-Pacific region and 39% in Latin America in the second quarter.

 

Like many U.S. manufacturers, Harley since the 2008-09 recession has revamped its operations to create a smaller and more flexible workforce, resulting in annual cost savings of more than $300 million and making the company more competitive. Among the changes: The union at its plant in York, Pa., accepted the use of temporary workers, who can be dismissed without severance pay. The number of job classifications at York also fell to five from 62, so workers have a wider variety of skills and can go where needed. As restrictive working rules were eliminated, a 136-page labor contract was replaced by a 58-page document.

 

Evan Smith, president of Hanover, N.H.-based Hypertherm Inc., said sales of its metal-cutting tools have been growing this year in the Middle East and Latin America. Opening a distribution center in Brazil helped, he said.

 

Minneapolis-based Graco Inc. GGG -0.68% has increased sales in Central and Eastern Europe of equipment used to spray paint and other coatings on roads, bridges and buildings, said spokesman Bryce Hallowell.

 

Big companies, such as Caterpillar Inc. CAT -0.48% and General Electric Co., have moved some production back to the U.S. in recent years. Some foreign companies, such as tire maker Bridgestone Corp. 5108.TO -2.04% of Japan, have expanded U.S. capacity, partly to serve customers in the Americas.

 

As the boom in shale "fracking" lowers natural-gas and electricity prices in the U.S., and wages stagnate, "the U.S. is steadily becoming one of the lowest-cost countries for manufacturing in the developed world," the BCG report said. The U.S. will have an edge over rival manufacturing nations in energy costs, along with lower productivity-adjusted labor costs than Germany, Japan, France, Italy and Britain, the report said. That will allow the U.S. to grab a larger share of global manufacturing sales.

 

"This is a fundamental economic shift," said Harold Sirkin, a senior partner at BCG, who helped write the report. "The trends are going faster than we thought," he said, adding: "As much as people say we don't make anything anymore, it's just not true."

 

Even so, the U.S. has lost much ground over the past 15 years, largely because of China's surging growth and focus on exports. The U.S. accounted for 11% of global exports of manufactured goods in 2011, down from 19% in 2000, Mr. Preeg said. During the same period, China's share rocketed to nearly 21% from 7%, and the European Union slipped to 20% from 22%.

 

China's performance has cooled recently. U.S. exports of manufacturing goods to China surged 19% to $19.9 billion in the second quarter, Mr. Preeg said, but that is about one-fifth of China's manufacturing exports to the U.S.

 

U.S. manufacturers still face big hurdles. Many can't find enough skilled workers to operate and repair sophisticated computer-controlled machinery, a shortage worsened by the retirement of baby boomers. Faster economic growth in China, India and Brazil means many global companies still want to open more plants there. A U.S. corporate focus on quarterly results sometimes deters investment in factory equipment, while many U.S. firms say they pay higher taxes and get fewer subsidies than foreign rivals.

 

Meanwhile, China no longer relies heavily on labor-cost advantages to get a leg up on other countries. As wages rise, China has shifted to more exports of higher-tech items, including telecommunications equipment, computers and scientific instruments, Mr. Preeg said. Only about 15% of China's manufacturing exports are in labor-intensive industries, such as textiles or shoes, he said.

 

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323423804579020732661092434.html

[MtlMan]

Faut être réaliste, les bases de cette "reprise" ne sont pas porteuses de grand avenir:

 

 

La reprise «low cost»

 

L'économie continue de se redresser aux États-Unis. Mais la première puissance mondiale génère surtout des «McJobs» peu payants qui découragent les sans-emploi. Et sa classe moyenne attend toujours les bienfaits de cette reprise qui profite surtout aux plus riches.

 

Nul doute, l'économie américaine s'est remise en marche en 2013, confirment divers indicateurs. Profits des entreprises en hausse, Bourse galopante, solides ventes d'autos... Mais cette reprise de la première puissance mondiale, après une grave récession, devient de moins en moins convaincante à mesure qu'on fouille dans les chiffres.

 

Les États-Unis présentent en effet un bilan paradoxal sur le plan économique. C'est d'ailleurs pourquoi, disent les experts, la Réserve fédérale (Fed) a maintenu la semaine dernière son soutien exceptionnel à la reprise du pays.

 

Un exemple: dans le secteur immobilier, dont l'effondrement est à l'origine de la crise financière de 2008-2009, les prix des maisons sont certes en hausse (" 12,2% sur un an, selon l'indice S&P/Case Shiller de juillet), et le marché de la revente croît également. Cependant, l'industrie immobilière confirme un ralentissement de la demande, cet été, face à la montée récente des taux hypothécaires.

 

De même, le commerce de détail s'active à première vue depuis un an, notamment dans le secteur de l'automobile (" 0,9% en août). Mais la confiance des consommateurs a diminué sensiblement en septembre, et les ventes des magasins ont ralenti en août (" 0,2% après un gain de 0,4% en juillet), signe que les ménages américains s'essoufflent rapidement.

 

On décroche

 

Or, c'est surtout sur le marché de l'emploi que le paradoxe économique américain est le plus inquiétant.

 

Comme le confirmaient les plus récentes statistiques (août), le chômage aux États-Unis continue certes de reculer (7,3%, soit 0,1% de moins qu'en juillet). Mais la baisse est lente. Et si le chômage diminue, ce n'est pas pour de bonnes raisons. Ce ne sont pas tant les embauches qui augmentent que le nombre croissant d'Américains qui renoncent à chercher un emploi.

 

Ils sont 7 millions à pouvoir travailler chez nos voisins du Sud, mais sans chercher réellement un emploi. Ce qu'on appelle le «taux de participation», ou la part de la population qui a un travail ou qui en cherche un, est tombé à 63,2%, un creux en 35 ans! Bref, les Américains abandonnent le marché du travail par milliers.

 

«Les salariés qui ont renoncé à travailler représentent les trois quarts de la baisse du taux de participation depuis le début de la récession», déplore l'Economic Policy Institute dans une note économique. Même les travailleurs dans la fleur de l'âge décrochent: plus de la moitié des gens (53,7%) ayant renoncé à travailler sont âgés de 25 à 54 ans.

 

Trop de McJobs

 

Sans oublier que la qualité des emplois créés laisse souvent à désirer. Selon la Brookings Institution, quelque 70% des embauches depuis la fin de la récession l'ont été dans des secteurs à faible coût de main-d'oeuvre, comme la restauration rapide et le commerce de détail. Ce que des économistes appellent des «McJobs», une référence aux emplois peu rémunérés des restos de type fast-food.

 

À cet égard, le portrait est désolant: corrigés de l'inflation, les salaires chez McDonald's n'ont pas progressé d'un cent... en 50 ans, selon des études américaines.

 

Pas surprenant que la révolte gronde dans ce secteur aux États-Unis, cible de plusieurs manifestations cet été de la part de travailleurs réclamant de meilleures conditions de travail.

 

La classe moyenne oubliée

 

Or, la reprise reste tout aussi médiocre pour la grande majorité des Américains.

 

Selon le Census Bureau, le revenu médian des ménages n'était en 2012 que de 51 017$US, quasiment au même niveau qu'en 2011. Il est encore inférieur de 8% au niveau de 2007 et de 9% au sommet historique de 1999.

 

Ce qui fait dire à Lawrence Mishel, président de l'Economic Policy Institute, que «le seul groupe qui ait vraiment prospéré depuis la fin de la récession, en juin 2009, ce sont les 5% de la population qui gagnent le plus».

 

Sans oublier que le taux de pauvreté - fixé pour un ménage gagnant moins de 23 283$US - a stagné en 2012, à 15%. Son plus haut niveau depuis 1993.

 

Dans ces conditions, les spéculations vont bon train pour savoir quand la Fed pourra retirer son soutien à l'économie américaine, marqué par des injections massives de liquidités (85 milliards US par mois) dans le système bancaire. Fin 2013? Début 2014? Chose certaine, cette reprise pourrait être l'une des plus frustrantes de l'histoire des États-Unis.

 

Le président Barack Obama a dû le reconnaître dans un récent discours à l'occasion des cinq ans de la crise financière. «Même si nos entreprises créent de nouveaux emplois et ont battu des records de bénéfices, le 1% le plus riche du pays a reçu 20% du revenu de la nation l'an dernier, quand le travailleur moyen ne bénéficie d'aucune amélioration.»

 

 

 

http://affaires.lapresse.ca/economie/etats-unis/201309/23/01-4692041-la-reprise-low-cost.php

[Malek]

Top 100 marques dans le monde!

 

55 sont américaine

 

Le plus proche pays dans le palmarès est l'Allemagne avec 9, le Japon et la France suivent avec 7 chacuns.

 

http://www.interbrand.com/en/best-global-brands/2013/Best-Global-Brands-2013.aspx

[vivreenrégion]

Ce qui va aider les US c'est le fait de rapatrier plusieurs compagnies aux states. Faut tu fasses travailler ton monde.

[Malek]

Ce qui va aider les US c'est le fait de rapatrier plusieurs compagnies aux states. Faut tu fasses travailler ton monde.

 

Durant les 12 derniers mois j'ai lu pleins d'articles là dessus, des compagnies américaines (Apple est un bon exemple), mais aussi étrangères qui ramènent ça aux USA.

 

Je me suis finalement décidé de faire un fil là dessus... vu que les préjugés persistent sur nos voisins du sud

[MtlMan]

vu que les préjugés persistent sur nos voisins du sud

 

L'article de La Presse, se sont des préjugés, et non des faits? Eh ben. Comme tu dis toi-même, faut prendre les mauvaises nouvelles avec autant d'honnêteté que les bonnes qui font notre affaire....

 

T'as ta carte de membre du Parti Républicain? Pcq, on dirait que tu travailles pour eux. (Je taquines, là).