WASHINGTON — The majority of Americans say they prefer lower prices instead of paying a premium for items labeled “Made in the U.S.A.,” even if it means those cheaper items are made abroad, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll.
Nearly three in four say they would like to buy goods manufactured inside the United States, but those items are often too costly or difficult to find, according to the survey released Thursday. A mere 9% say they only buy American.
Asked about a real world example of choosing between $50 pants made in another country or an $85 pair made in the United States — one retailer sells two such pairs made with the same fabric and design — 67% say they’d buy the cheaper pair. Only 30% would pony up for the more expensive American-made one.
People in higher earning households earning more than $100,000 a year are no less likely than lower-income Americans to say they’d go for the lower price.
As for trade agreements, 46% say they decrease jobs for American workers, while 11% say they improve employment opportunities and 40% say they make no difference.
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