Key reasons for returning to the U.S. include rising wages offshore, better quality of goods produced in the U.S., easier access to repairs and lower delivery costs, he said.

FORBES: Pumping Muscle into U.S. Manufacturing

This is not because the rich are gullible shoppers but rather, say the authors, because they tend to buy goods of better quality (such as organic milk), the prices of which are higher and tend to rise more quickly.

ECONOMIST: Economics focus

Big chains thrive because they provide goods and services of greater variety, better quality, and lower cost than would otherwise be available.

NEWYORKER: Big Med

Importers will tell you that goods made here, if you can still find any (many) are generally of better quality.

FORBES: Bernanke, Buffett, Lappin: Bonds, Gold and Stocks