In the auto industry, American producers encountered global competition in the mid-1970s as a result of increased fuel prices following the formation of OPEC. Fuel efficiency became a more important criterion in purchase decisions. Increased consumer attention to quality also began to dominate purchase decisions within various price ranges. Differences in labor costs across producing countries led to price advantages for producers in some nations. These differences include variations in both wages and labor productivity Relative costs also increase or decrease depending on the exchange rate between the dollar and foreign currencies