(Newser)
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Canadians are infiltrating the US in record numbers on brief missions to buy milk and vacuum cleaners. Why the sudden spike in "shopping vacations"? The Canadian dollar is strong, Canadian law now permits a larger allowance for duty-free goods, and post-9/11 border control has gradually relaxed, reports USA Today. Canadians journeyed to the US for 1.9 million overnight visits in June, the highest level in 40 years.
In 2002, the Canadian dollar was valued at 64 American cents, but now it nearly matches the US dollar, and Canadians who spend a day in the states can haul back $200 worth of products tax-free, or $800 if they're across the border for more than 48 hours. Not every American is glad to see more of their northern neighbors, though. In Washington state, a person posted a Facebook page requesting the local Costco set aside shopping hours for Americans only.
