Prospects for export business, which provided early support for the fledgling recovery, may be fading, however, as overseas economies slow.

Like many consumer-products companies with substantial global operations, Avon was hurt by the collapse last year of many overseas economies.

The strong dollar and shaky overseas economies continue to take a toll on its overseas sales.

Clearly, slow growth in large overseas economies harms exports.

One reason is that many American exporters have worked themselves into such good competitive shape that they can sell even in fragile overseas economies.

Both companies have relatively high exposure to slowing overseas economies.

But this net spending on foreign goods and services means that some of America's demand is lost to overseas economies.

Trade is another factor in widening the gap, and not merely in terms of jobs lost to low-wage overseas economies.

American exports fell in March, partly because of weakening overseas economies.

Her own prosperity depended to some degree on providing loans to stimulate overseas economies in which her own products could be sold.