[Shaun @ Tru6]

When Indian and Chinese economies convert from manufacturing to consumer, the U.S. $ will have no value.

the irony here is that U.S. demand for lower prices forces U.S. manufacturing overseas which simultaneously destroys the U.S. Middle Class and creates overseas middle classes. the principal reason for cheap overseas manufacturing is the abundance of cheap labor. When that labor, now with great new jobs producing round the clock for the US and the EU, starts to buy their own goods, there will eventually be a tipping point where country of origin purchasing will supersede U.S. purchasing, which, by virtue of long term job loss (we're in a cycle now friends), will be on the decline. All prices will rise as country of origin currencies gain strength through economic development (the rupee is through the roof), but it won't be enough to bring back any substantial U.S. manufacturing.

Personal experience points of interest include: our Indian manufacturers want to take our line of boy's clothing to Indian department stores; a major Russian department store chain placed a very large order at a recent buyers' show.