Somewhat related to this thread was an item on BBC World Service last night.
It was about the colonisation of Africa by China.
In Zimbabwe Africans that were allocated the farms taken from white
farmers are being removed and the farms "sold" to Chinese companies.
The farms will not be supplying the local economy but exporting to China.

Perhaps if the Chinese economy contracts enough farmers in China may
return to the land and leave even more empty home units behind them.

Bazz this is happening every place in the world that will sell.
NZ has seen dairy's sold and we too sell to China and other country's parts of ours.
It is a long standing joke,decades old, that America wanted to buy QLD But Japan did not wish to sell
Rechtub Chinas economy has zero reason to adopt our wages/prices, for exactly the reasons I gave about your shops.
If tomorrow they did,increase wages to our levels [why they would baffles me] Japan Korea many country's would be happy.
If, [and too silly to think about] they all did.
Our country within a year would create a manufacturing industry here bigger than ever.
We do not manufacture ONLY BECAUSE MARKET FORCES control prices and costs.
Thinking about going back to work bored here need a business manager?

Gee belly, now would'nt that be nice. Jobs all round for everyone.

Belly & Rehctub, actually Chinese wages have been rising and is one
of the reasons for the closed factories.
Inflation is the number one worry of the Chinese government.

They would love to unload more US dollars but to do so would crash the
US$ and make their situation worse.
The crunch date for US borrowing has moved back to 2nd August.
It is the date when the US either increases its borrowing or defaults
on its payments.
Its congress is in dispute over increasing the amount that may be borrowed.

Default is a real possibility and if it does come to that will have
world wide repercussions.

Bazz no default back on it,but I see only hardship for America for some years.
GFC born in America and the single biggest act of treason against that country in history.
Rechtub, mate, what happened to the Broncos?
Bet you do not sell too many sausages to vegetarians.
If you try,give it up bloke it will not make you rich.
Now I have cut my meat in take, while working was the type who said give me a full scotch fillet two kgs of t bone and some snags, leave the road kill out.
Living on 25% of my once income, and doing ok.
Meat will never be cheap again, but just maybe that is reason some sales are down.
We, face it, are not a chance of being a manufacturing country for White goods and such.
It is those you bless as risk takers who will not invest in such.
Would you buy your shirts made here at three times the price of imports?
Get the grumpy bloke inside you under control bung on a free Bar BBQ for street kids.
But watch what you put in the snags, your dad would have loved you for it.

If we think times are tough here have a look at this;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwrO6jhtC5E

This one reason the US will either default or be never able to repay
its debts. Some say they are now at the point where it is impossible
to recover without restructuring their debt. Thats code for going bankrupt like Greece may well do.