The increases demonstrate that global demand for Chinese goods remains strong, even though many Western markets are battling the fallout of a worldwide financial crisis. Indeed, the export statistics are serving as evidence of an economic theory known as “decoupling,” in which emerging economies in Asia and Europe have developed enough market place muscle to no longer be dependent on the U.S.

Free markets, unfortunately, are prone to excess. In the end, we’re all speculators at heart. Most of us can remember pretty clearly what our most recent recession - mostly caused by the internet bubble bursting and exacerbated by 9/11.