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Weak Dollar Draws Foreign Shoppers

International travelers arrive with fat wallets, empty suitcases

By Lucas Laursen, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 30, 2007 9:46 AM CST

(Newser) – Foreigners are taking advantage of the weak US dollar to do their holiday shopping in the States, Time reports in a look at a double-edged trend. Even as American shoppers find the cost of imported goods soaring, international visitors are arriving in droves, and "they're mentioning the exchange rate more often," says one merchant.

Some shoppers arrive with just the clothes on their backs and empty suitcases, which they stuff with cheap booty. Thanks to cheap flights and the lack of sales tax, Minnesota's Mall of America has seen an influx of Icelanders. "They're power shopping here every day," says the sales director at a nearby hotel.

Rachel Healy, left, and her sister Lorna Healy and other sisters (not pictured) of Cork, Ireland, take a carriage ride along Central Park South in New York Friday, Nov. 16, 2007. The Healy's are all pleased... (Associated Press)

(Getty Images)

Colleen Dimmick, left, 21, walks with her mother Lesley Dimmick as they cross 5th Ave. in New York Friday, Nov. 16, 2007. They are visiting New York from New Castle, England for Colleen's birthday, but... (Associated Press)

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Weak Dollar Draws Foreign Shoppers

International travelers arrive with fat wallets, empty suitcases

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More Newser Stories

Japan, China Cut Currency Deal, Shun Dollar

Leaders also discuss North Korea

Euro Dives Below $1.30

Italian bond sale drives price south

Putin on US: It's a 'Parasite'

Debt fight shows why world should move away from dollar, Russian leader says

Dollar Nears 3-Year Low

Set for biggest weekly plunge since January

Americans Buy $1.2T Worth of Stuff They Don’t Need

That's about 11% of total consumer spending

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Weak Dollar Draws Foreign Shoppers

International travelers arrive with fat wallets, empty suitcases

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

consumer • exchange rate • currency exchange • US dollar

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Japan, China Cut Currency Deal, Shun Dollar

Leaders also discuss North Korea

Euro Dives Below $1.30

Italian bond sale drives price south

Putin on US: It's a 'Parasite'

Debt fight shows why world should move away from dollar, Russian leader says

Dollar Nears 3-Year Low

Set for biggest weekly plunge since January

Americans Buy $1.2T Worth of Stuff They Don’t Need

That's about 11% of total consumer spending

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?