Christmas shopping in US popular this year

Shoppers from the UK are flying across the ocean to take advantage of great deals in stores in the United States. A combination of a strong sterling and post-Thanksgiving Day sales make shopping in America an alluring way for a Briton to spend the weekend.

 

The sterling recently hit it highest level since 1981, compared to the American dollar, leading many of the jet-set to get on a 'plane and head across the Atlantic to pick up good deals on electrical appliances and designer clothing.

 

Head of investor relations for British Airways, George Stinnes said: "The weak dollar is certainly helping a few shoppers find their way to the US." He said that BA has seen a 7.4 increase in passenger numbers this October compared to the same month last year.

 

Unfortunately, every trip up in the air has its environmental cost and the numbers of Britons flying for pleasure has increased the UK's contribution to climate change. According to the US Department of Energy, Britain ranks eighth in the world for carbon dioxide emissions.

 

John Buckley is the managing director for Carbon Footprint, a company which attempts to lower carbon emissions. "Realistically people are still going to fly, so the best thing for them to do is to offset those emissions," he said.

 

The trend is also having an impact back home where retail sales have dropped in October for the first time this year.

 


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Jennifer Jones Editorial


01/12/2007



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