European Debt Woes Cast Pall Over U.S. Economy : NPR

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JOHN YDSTIE, BYLINE: >> I just talked to Drew Greenblatt, president of Marlin Steel Wire Products, a small manufacturer in Baltimore. He makes things for other manufacturers, like steel baskets and brackets and that sort of thing. And he says Europe's problems are affecting him too.

DREW GREENBLATT >> They're in a funk over there. Everybody's just kind of waiting for the world to end over there. And when you're waiting for the world to end, you're not so, you know, excited about buying more equipment or buying more machinery or whatever.

NPR JOHN YDSTIE, BYLINE: >> Greenblatt says he's doing five to 10 percent of his business in Europe right now and he should be doing 30 percent.

NPR DAVID GREENE, HOST: >> Well, that's really giving us a window. I mean, I suppose if companies are doing that much less business in Europe, I mean it has to start affecting, you know, hiring decisions. I mean is Greenblatt not able to keep as many people on?

NPR JOHN YDSTIE, BYLINE: >> You know, no. He says he's actually been doing a little hiring recently. He told me that's because he's doing pretty good business in some other parts of the world.

DREW GREENBLATT >> We just shipped a nice load to China the other day. We ship to Mexico weekly. Mexico's one of our biggest export markets. Canada - we got an order from Canada last week.

http://www.npr.org/2012/06/06/154408051/europes-debt-crisis-contributes-to-lower-u-s-exports