That was the rise of steel exports from China year over year in January, to 9.2 million tons, according to data from the Global Trade Information Service. For all of 2014, exports of Chinese steel were up a giant 59% versus 2013 to 82.1 million tons - the most steel ever exported by any country this century. China produces as much steel as the rest of the world combined, more than four times the peak U.S. production in the 1970s. As growth keeps slowing at home, and the government there focuses on building a consumer economy versus continued massive infrastructure spending to drive growth, there is huge overcapacity in China, and mills there are sending their steel to the US and Europe at rock bottom prices. CEOs of leading American steel producers are saying they will testify at a coming Congressional hearing on the issue, a move that is likely a prelude to launching anti-dumping complaints with the International Trade Commission.

That's how many states now have passed "right to work" laws, now that Wisconsin signed its change into law last week. Becoming a right to work state basically means an employee cannot be forced to join a union and pay union dues even a manufacturing plant or other operation that is unionized. Proponents of the change argue freedom for workers to not be forced into a union, while labor interests say it gives such workers the benefits of union wages and other benefits without paying for it. Union forces have sued to stop the change, but such efforts in other states have not fared well. Now split down the middle at 25 each, right to work states were historically all in the South and Western regions of the country, but the last three to make the move are in once union-heavy Midwest states - Indiana, Michigan and now the Badger state.