$/£

Holy schnikies!  $2.08 to the pound!  How much further will the dollar fall?  Will people be carting wheelbarrows of dollar bills around?

OMG!!! GREAT timing for me! We're going over in a couple of weeks' time!  I wish I had a bit of extra dosh to throw at my student loans!

YAYE!!!!!

Ugh.  Good timing for you Mrs. Robinson, though. 

I *hate* to think that what I have in my US bank account is worth less than half of what it is.  Plus my parents gave us a nice check for our wedding, but of course it's only really *half* the amount written on it.  Bleh.   

I'll be happy when I'm earning pounds.

Not good for us. We're hoping to move sometime soon and we're going over at Christmas. 

Hi,

Yes, it's a fantastic rate going from here to the US, but not so good the other way round!

I'd suspect the rate will fall further yet before any measures taken to safeguard the currency kick in. there are many factors, one bandied about alot is the importation of goods from china who's currency is 'linked' to the US Dollar. It makes their (china) exports do well, currently we are 'enjoying' importing our goods in using our US Dollar account. However, currently a combination of the Sub Prime real estate fallout, the high price of Oil barrels currently are causing jitters for the US dollar - I don't think it's at 'value crash' level just yet, but once these things start to pan out and prices fall (for Oil) and the housing market recovers over time, you can bet yer bottom dollar (sorry!) that the currency will make a recovery - probably over some time.

Hard to say of course what WILL definitley happen, but I'd think a little more value drop is to be expected before a turnaround occurs.

Lets see!

Cheers! DtM! West London & Slough UK!

I hope it starts to turn around soon. We might have to postpone our move to England at this rate. 

I hope it starts to turn around soon. We might have to postpone our move to England at this rate. 

Depends on what you mean by 'soon' ! - the US dollar rate has been 'falling' now for well over a year, unless some 'big' economic change occurs, I'd expect the US Dollar to rally back it's value over a period of 1-2 years to the more usual £1 = $1.50/60 USD mark. That's of course provided the current 'worry' aspects of the economy don't get worse!

Basically, in usual 'comeback' situations, it usually does take at least a few months to show a continual trend in the wanted direction and then a period of years before it gets back to 'comfortable' levels as it were.. but as with all things economic, you never really know what's happening around the corner!

DtM! West London & Slough UK!

We plan to move either this summer or next, we're hoping for this summer. Hopefully it will start to get better but it doesn't seem like it'll be back where it should be by then though. 

My boyfriend is rather pleased, as he's English, and visiting my family with me for Christmas.  He's been going on and on about how he can't wait to pack one fourth of a suitcase and then stuff the remainder with half priced goods from America.

The only trouble is going to be getting it all through customs without paying any stupid duties... we shall figure it out.

As for me, when my mom wires money into my account, it's really depressing.  It's a substantial amount of money in terms of living in the US, but not in terms of living in the UK.  I'm also having a lot of trouble getting hired here because of the fact that I'm going home for Christmas for two weeks, which leads many companies to not want to hire me as soon as possible.  It's annoying.

Slightly alarming headline

Why the dollar may be doomed

http://money.uk.msn.com/Investing/articles/john-stepek/article.aspx?cp-documentid=6569557

As i posted earlier, I think the US Dollar will fall even lower before any economic 'policies and/or events' allow a turn around and subsequent strengthening of its value in the gloabal markets.

It's good news if you're looking to do the 'shop till you drop' thing when visiting the USA but not for those who are looking to come here from the US at least in terms of initial costs etc. The shopping trips to new york will inevitably be rammed and booked up and airlines will probably be loving the extra income, and no doubt the shops over in 5th avenue etc will be rubbing their hands in glee with in influx of brits saying 'oh my god look how cheap this is'!!

But that's only part of the story, those very same brits will come back with smiles but they could easily and quite quickly in fact be wiped away when it comes to paying back the money on their credit cards - something the UK generally is very loathe to do. That has the knock on effect on the housing market, which is showing signs of levelling off at the very least - suddenly, all that 'cheap credit' isn't so cheap anymore for payback time!

The UK whilst riding high in terms of the £ value, is looking at a bigger 'fallout' if the housing market wobbles - I'd expect the resultant 'UK equivalent of the sub prime sector fallout' to be substantially harder hitting than the current US dip.

Be careful everyone - dont go crazy on yer credit cards this chrimbo!

Cheers! DtM! West London & Slough UK!

Just went to the post office & saw a sign '$1000 US dollars for £497.??'  WOW!

cool, I was hoping to start some stateside investing when I go home in Dec.

£497 seems a little bit high.  With the exchange rate at $2.09 I wouldn't be surprised to get $2.05 from a currency exchange company or £487.  You might be able to save £10 or more on that.

cool, I was hoping to start some stateside investing when I go home in Dec.

Perfect time to think about sending money to the US and investing in property.  Good exchange rate and property prices dropping.  I'm going to keep sending money home and invest an apartment in mid-2008 if I think the property market has bottomed out.