As Dollar Declines, Europeans See U.S. As Big Half-Off Sale.

As the dollar has fallen to a 12-year-low against the British pound and an all-time low against the five-year-old euro, Europeans now view the U.S. as one giant half-off sale on everything from clothes to coffee to restaurant meals. Because so many businesses now operate globally, comparison shopping is easy.

Travel from some European countries to the U.S. is up nearly 25% so far this year.

Examples of bargain hunting for British shoppers in the U.S.:

Apple iPod (20GB: 5,000 songs)
New York City: $299
London: $426

Gap reversible faux-fur vest
Gap in U.S.: $68
Gap in London: $132

Starbucks tall coffee
New York City financial-district store: $1.79
London financial-district store: $2.82

(12-06-04 wsj.)