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  1. #1
    Senior Member Skip's Avatar
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    SAN DIEGO COUNTY : FALLING PESO DRAGS DOWN LOCAL MERCHANTS



    REGION: Falling peso drags down local merchants

    Less spending by Mexicans could worsen the county's economy


    By EDWARD SIFUENTES - Staff Writer
    Saturday, March 21, 2009 7:07 PM PDT
    NORTH COUNTY TIMES : SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

    The weakening Mexican peso could mean fewer people are coming north from Tijuana to buy flat-screen TVs, designer clothes and household goods, economists and local business leaders say.

    Since August, the peso has lost about a third of its value ---- from about 10 pesos per dollar to 15 pesos per dollar. That means that Mexican shoppers, who frequently exchange pesos for dollars to shop in San Diego County, have seen their spending power diminish because they are able to buy fewer dollars with their money.

    "It definitely has reduced Mexican citizens' spending power here," said Marney Cox, chief economist for the San Diego Association of Governments, the region's chief planning agency.


    Since August, the peso has lost about a third of its value and that means Mexican shoppers are spending less when they visit the United States

    For example, a Mexican shopper who purchased a $400 TV last summer spent about 4,000 pesos; now he would spend about 6,000 pesos, the equivalent of a $200 price increase.

    Jim Gerber, a professor of economics at San Diego State University, said that a drop in the value of the peso could mean a reduction in the county's already falling sales tax revenue.

    Retail sales in the county are forecast to fall from $34 billion in 2007 to $32 billion in 2009, according to the San Diego Institute for Policy research, a local economic and policy think tank at National University.

    Declining sales tax revenue for the county and cities in the region could mean fewer services for their residents.

    The devaluation of the peso is the latest in a series of problems local businesses are facing in attracting shoppers from neighboring Tijuana; long border waits, increased scrutiny at the border and Mexico's dwindling economy also are contributing to lower sales, business leaders say.

    "The sad truth is that border waits have already killed off most of our casual shoppers," said Jason Wells, executive director of the San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce.

    Wells said business in the South Bay is about half of what it was last year, due largely to the slumping economy and long lines at the border, Wells said. The devaluation of the peso may have some effect on spending habits, but it is likely negligible, he said.

    Although fewer Americans are traveling to Mexico because of concerns about crime, Wells said now is a good time to go south of the border because of the strength of the dollar.

    However, to stimulate the economy on this side of the border, the federal government must reduce wait times at the border, Wells said.

    Delays at U.S.-Mexico border crossings in San Diego County were estimated to cost the U.S. economy about $3.74 billion in lost sales, jobs and productivity in 2005, according to a 2006 study released by the San Diego Association of Governments and the California Department of Transportation.

    It is unclear exactly how much Mexican shoppers spend in San Diego County, but thousands of Mexican residents often travel to South Bay cities each day looking for bargains on clothes, electronics and household items.

    In its 2006 study, the San Diego Association of Governments estimated that Mexicans spent about $6 billion in San Diego County, nearly 4 percent of all economic activity in the region, which is more than $160 billion a year.

    The study included a survey asking people crossing the border about their travel.

    Of the 3,754 people questioned in the survey, 70 percent of them said they lived in Mexico.

    The survey reported that 63 percent of Mexican residents questioned said they were crossing the border into the U.S. to shop. About 80 percent of Mexican residents questioned said they were going to the City of San Diego or South Bay cities. Only about 5 percent of them said they were going to "other parts of the county."

    North County was not reported as a destination in the survey results, but may have been lumped in with "other parts of the county."

    "The impacts are strongest near the border," SDSU's Gerber said. "As one moves north, they weaken as shoppers from Mexico drive farther north. There are Mexican shoppers in North County, but a lot of them earn dollars, not pesos."

    The devaluation of the peso has been attributed by some economists in part to America's slumping economy, because Mexico depends heavily on the U.S. to buy its exports. The struggling economy here also has hurt Mexican workers in the U.S. who are sending less money to their families at home.

    Contact staff writer Edward Sifuentes at (760) 740-3511 or esifuentes@nctimes.com.

    NORTH COUNTY TIMES

  2. #2
    Senior Member WorriedAmerican's Avatar
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    Re: SAN DIEGO COUNTY : FALLING PESO DRAGS DOWN LOCAL MERCHAN

    I'm for what ever keeps them out! So this sounds good to me.

    However, to stimulate the economy on this side of the border, the federal government must reduce wait times at the border, Wells said.
    This jerk obviously doesn't think illegals, human smuggling, drugs or drug money is any problem to America?
    I say make everyone be checked with X-Ray machines as the cars pass thru! Check 'em all!
    If Palestine puts down their guns, there will be peace.
    If Israel puts down their guns there will be no more Israel.
    Dick Morris

  3. #3
    Senior Member azwreath's Avatar
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    Re: SAN DIEGO COUNTY : FALLING PESO DRAGS DOWN LOCAL MERCHAN

    Quote Originally Posted by WorriedAmerican
    I'm for what ever keeps them out! So this sounds good to me.

    However, to stimulate the economy on this side of the border, the federal government must reduce wait times at the border, Wells said.
    Quote Originally Posted by WorriedAmerican

    This jerk obviously doesn't think illegals, human smuggling, drugs or drug money is any problem to America?
    I say make everyone be checked with exra machines as the cars pass thru! Check 'em all!



    Yeah..........have you noticed how there's always an excuse to blame everything on border security and our procedures and laws for immigration and cross border travel?

    Doesn't matter what it is.....it's ALWAYS our fault because of OUR policies and everything would be fine if we'd just stop with this "silliness"
    Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)

  4. #4
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    Agree, WA! Apparently Americans are guilty not being able employ illegal Mexicans at good pay to support the economic mess in Mexico. Maybe we should all do more drugs than we do these days, as I am sure those good taxpaying drug cartels are also suffering from lack of income so they can buy flat-screen TVs (made in China) or Cadillacs and Lincolns and vans to smuggle illegals, or all those nifty guns we make.
    NAFTA has got to be totally destroyed and the Mexicans get no sympathy from me since they have slapped tariffs on about 90 produce products, just because we worry about the danger to the American citizen when that fully-loaded Mexican truck loses its brakes, or transports more illegals and drugs along with avocados and jalapenos. Hispanics, start making your own tortilla shells, because we really don't need any more crap from Mexico until we sort out our country and you sort out yours.
    And boycott Hershey's, which just laid off workers a few weeks ago and sent the work to Mexico!
    Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)

  5. #5
    Senior Member WorriedAmerican's Avatar
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    Whining illegals picket constantly outside the "Homeland Security USA" producers office, so they didn't have it on TV last week. I heard they shut down but will run the rest this summer? I think that's not true though.

    I LOVED that show. It's about all activity at the borders, NOT just illegal Mexicans! They must think everything illegal is about them.

    Most have no idea what is even said. So others must be relaying what was on.

    I know I'm sick of them EVEN having a voice in America. They have ZERO rights. I want the Mexican Immigration Policy here in America. There's makes sense!
    If Palestine puts down their guns, there will be peace.
    If Israel puts down their guns there will be no more Israel.
    Dick Morris

  6. #6
    Senior Member vmonkey56's Avatar
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    And Americans cannot afford undocumented immigrants or the Visa programs anymore. We are nearly penniless.
    Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)

  7. #7
    April
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    Quote Originally Posted by WorriedAmerican
    Whining illegals picket constantly outside the "Homeland Security USA" producers office, so they didn't have it on TV last week. I heard they shut down but will run the rest this summer? I think that's not true though.

    I LOVED that show. It's about all activity at the borders, NOT just illegal Mexicans! They must think everything illegal is about them.

    Most have no idea what is even said. So others must be relaying what was on.

    I know I'm sick of them EVEN having a voice in America. They have ZERO rights. I want the Mexican Immigration Policy here in America. There's makes sense!
    Here is the link to their message board, everyone should voice their opinion about the show!!!!


    http://abc.go.com/primetime/homelandsec ... cat=160031

  8. #8
    Senior Member Skip's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by April
    Quote Originally Posted by WorriedAmerican
    Whining illegals picket constantly outside the "Homeland Security USA" producers office, so they didn't have it on TV last week. I heard they shut down but will run the rest this summer? I think that's not true though.

    I LOVED that show. It's about all activity at the borders, NOT just illegal Mexicans! They must think everything illegal is about them.

    Most have no idea what is even said. So others must be relaying what was on.

    I know I'm sick of them EVEN having a voice in America. They have ZERO rights. I want the Mexican Immigration Policy here in America. There's makes sense!
    Here is the link to their message board, everyone should voice their opinion about the show!!!!


    http://abc.go.com/primetime/homelandsec ... cat=160031
    i GOT A FEW POSTS IN !

  9. #9
    Senior Member WorriedAmerican's Avatar
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    i GOT A FEW POSTS IN !
    Great! I added some last week when I realized the show wasn't coming on.
    Then I emailed the producer!
    If Palestine puts down their guns, there will be peace.
    If Israel puts down their guns there will be no more Israel.
    Dick Morris

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