From: Mike N. 

On Sat, 11 Dec 2004 10:52:08 -0500, "Geo"  wrote:

>The chinese have to buy raw materials and energy to produce things, that
>raises the price of their goods compared to ours due to efficiencies and
>transportation costs.

  It also raises US prices.  The Chinese are buying so much steel that the
US steel prices have skyrocketed with a sharp peak in October.   Farm
Equipment has gone up proportionately with equipment sales prices now in 2
parts: Base and "Steel surcharge" depending on the price of steel
at the time of manufacture.  Even the used equipment and scrap steel prices
have gone up sharply.

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