Source: CNBC

The largest retailer in the United States, Wal-Mart, announced this year that they will increase the use of American-made products. Similarly, General Electric is investing millions in order to regenerate the Stateside manufacturing of their appliances. What these companies are intending to do is help our overall economy now, so that it may last in the future.

In addition to globally recognized stores, the mom-and-pop stores of America are also making a stand by creating strategies devoted to the production and sale of local goods. Loyalty to American products is important to these small, local stores, because they are the ones who benefit when people buy American.

The current recession in America has truly been a wakeup call for U.S. citizens. A recession is a hard thing to recognize while it’s happening, but easy to see when it’s all said and done. The current situation is the result of one thing: buying foreign products, it is true that buying goods made in China is cheaper but it comes with an additional price. Buying these less expensive products might help you save some money now, but all it really does is cut the amount of U.S. manufacturing jobs, kicking your fellow Americans out of the work force.

You may have to pay a little extra for locally made goods, but it will pay off in the future. Next time you’re about to buy a foreign-made product over an American one just to save a few bucks, consider how you can help your own country.