Yes, there is a light at the end of the tunnel for the down-turn in the tech economy, but there are still troubling signs that the ship has not yet set the right course. The latest sign of discord is a report by the TechAmerica Foundation that shows high-tech exports have been declining for the first half of 2009.

What does this mean for you? First of all, it means that the tech industry is still depressed and the expected rebound is slow in coming. Second, it means the growth is slower than expected, and that could impact your business in both direct and indirect ways.

High tech was the single largest merchandise export sector in the U.S. in 2008, representing 17 percent of all U.S. exports in the world. In Q4 '08, high-tech exports were down eight percent compared to Q4 '07. The drop became steeper with a 22 percent decline in Q1 '09 and a 22 percent decline in Q2 compared to their 2008 quarters.

"These high-tech exports support nearly 1.2 million American jobs, and if exports decline it is safe to say that jobs will be lost as well," said Christopher W. Hansen, president, TechAmerica Foundation, in a press statement.

On the flip side of the picture, the United States imported the most high-tech products from China--$116.8 billion--followed by Mexico--$51 billion. So how does the tech economy find a happy medium? Hard to say in these turbulent times. It's unclear when it will settle down and find the equilibrium it desperately needs.

For more on the state of technology:
- see this TechAmerica report

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