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er, if imports continue to rise, economic growth could become impaired if imports exceed exports. Alternatively, the goods deficit with both the EU and Canada decreased in 2009. Both countries experienced a decrease in imports and exports.

Furthermore, $1 in 2004 had about the same buying power as $1.17 in 2010. The steady decrease in the dollar can be attributed to the growing $12 trillion US trade deficit and means that US goods are now cheaper and more competitive than foreign counterparts. Thus, exports are likely to increase as the value of the dollar declines. However, the decreasing value of the dollar also means that foreign investors are becoming more and more reluctant to invest in the US. Ultimately, the deficit could inhibit economic growth if the government decides to raise taxes to help pay it off or if investors decide to diversify with non-dollar assets.

While the value of the dollar has steadily declined over the last several years, the US Industrial Production Index (IPI) has experienced a variety of fluctuations during the same time period. For example, while the index was recorded at 102.29 towards the beginning of 2004, a steady increase (with minor fluctuations) occurred through 2006 as it reached 112.52. However, the index began to drop towards the end of 2007 and continued to decline through May 2009 (down to 96). However, the IPI has since picked up and is projected to be 100.70 by May 2010. The trend indicates that while the index was down, the level of output from the manufacturing, mining, electric, and gas industries was down as well and that these industries were not performing as well as when their index was higher. Likewise, it is reasonable to assume that the projected increase in output also suggests an increase in performance for the wire and cable manufacturing industry over the next several months.

Furthermore, while the majority of business is generated primarily from the US, it is equally important to evaluate the economic environments of other key players as well. While Spain’s per capita GDP is one of the largest in West European economies, the country is in the middle of a severe recession with soaring unemployment rates and an augmented government budget deficit. For example, Spain's unemployment rate rose from 11% in 2008 to almost 20% in 2009 (one of the highest in the EU), and its fiscal balance declined from a deficit of 3.8% of GDP in 2008 to over 10% of GDP in 2009. Additionally, in 2009, GPD per capita fell 3.8% from 2008, ending a 16-year growth trend. Spain's economic slump not only reflects a significant decline in the construction sector, but in consumer spending and exports as well.

While the United States and Spain have experienced much pain from the current economic global recession, France has conquered the economic crisis better than most other big EU economies. Not only does this country engage in more elastic consumer and government spending, but they have also faced lower exposure to the downturn in global demand. Nonetheless, France's 2009 real GDP decreased 2.1%, while the 2008 unemployment rate increased from 7.4% to nearly 10%. Additionally, the government budget deficit rose sharply from 3.4% of 2008 GDP to over 8% of 2009 GDP. In response to the economic crisis the French government passed a $35 billion stimulus plan in the beginning of 2009 focused on investment in infrastructure and tax breaks for small busin