12/17/2007

Give us your tired, your poor, your empty suitcases......?

Hello:

The falling dollar is bringing unusual benefits to U.S. retailers this month. International travelers are streaming to our metropolises' stores with empty suitcases in tow. Due to the favorable exchange rates (to the travelers) holiday shopping is going gangbusters, particularly with the high-end retailers.

This may be the beginning of the end of the dropping dollar. If international travelers are attracted to the local prices for merchandise, it could follow that international companies will be attracted to the local prices on labor, and raw materials, etc. Perhaps 2008 will bring more jobs onshore as opposed to the past years of jobs moving overseas.

With this positive outlook, we wish you a happy and safe holiday season, and a very prosperous 2008!

Foundation Services Group will be open for limited hours on Christmas Eve and New Years Eve. Closed Christmas day and New Years day. Normal business hours will be in effect on the other market days. The Weekly e-Update will return on January 3rd.

Terri G. Millson, CIMA, CIMC President

Ray Dicius, CSA, GEPC LPL Branch Manager