s are experiencing good times, economists said. "Steel products have been pretty strong over the past year or so," said Tim Dunne, senior economic adviser to the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. "Raw steel production has been pretty robust, and pricing in the market is pretty good." With the dollar weakened and energy prices high, many firms have less interest in imported steel. In addition, supply is tight, allowing steel mills to demand their price. "There is no question the industry is doing very well," said Dick McLaughlin, managing director of Hatch Beddows, a consulting firm.
Even as exports and foreign tourism help fuel the otherwise anemic U.S. economy, the public is taking a much more critical view of free-trade agreements, which are aimed at further integrating the nation's economy with that of the rest of the world.
Nearly half of Americans say such agreements are bad for the country, the highest proportion since the question was first asked, in 1997, according to an April survey by the Pew Research Center. There is now a broad agreement that free trade hurts wages, jobs and economic growth in America, the poll found.
Dave Huether, chief economist for the National Association of Manufacturers, called the hardening opposition to free trade misguided -- especially at a time when exports were playing a significant role in keeping the economy afloat. While he said export growth could be headed for a patch during which it is not as strong as it has been in recent past, he also said the forecast is still for solid growth, making exports a "silver lining" in an otherwise gloomy economic outlook.
"What is happening now in the economy really shows why it is important for the U.S. economy to be engaged globally," Huether said. "When there are slowdowns in certain parts of the domestic economy, it is a real benefit when there is another pillar holding things up."
