Where's the $ Going? Watch Robinson Payments

Looking for a leading indicator of whether the U.S. dollar is rebounding in value against other international currencies? Top U.S. economic officials have in recent weeks been signaling that the "greenback" has depreciated enough. They long had been content to let it slide because that boosted exports of U.S.-made products, but now they're worried about inflation. One sign that their statements are helping to halt the dollar's slide is non-U.S. customer payments to Robinson Helicopter, the Torrance, Calif.-based manufacturer that exports 75 percent of the helicopters it builds. "When they think the dollar's going to drop, foreign customers hold off making payments as long as they can," said Kurt Robinson, vice president of the company founded by his father, Frank. "Now they're making payments as fast as they can." That adds pressure on Robinson to deliver helicopters faster. For related news