The £ v the $

[mickd1961]

I was shocked to see how far the good old British £ has fallen against the $ in exchange rate.

It’s 15% to 20% worse than where it’s sat in recent times so prepare yourselves for another sharp rise in imported goods in the coming months.

Hard to believe nowadays but when I started importing goods in the 1997 to early 2000’s era I was getting almost $2 to every £ and yet they now believe there will be parity between the two currencies in the coming months!

The last time this happened was in 1992 when John Major pushed Chancellor Norman Lamont out in front of the cameras to tell us all we were just about f u c k e d on Black Wednesday.

I have never seen such a dire set of world financial stresses in my almost 61 years.

To be honest, it’s impossible for ANY political leader or party to navigate this without some severe pain for their populous.

In the short term, a holiday to the USA is going to feel mighty expensive compared to normal.

[Dubbag]

I buy a lot globally.
Last year I was importing from USA where I had bought something for $1000 plus shipping.
It cost me a little over €530 in at the then rate.
Today, that same item would cost me €1000 plus shipping plus customs charges which have gone through the roof.
Even buying from UK is highly expensive now.
Also, because the oil is priced in dollars....Last year oil at $60 cost about UK £42 per barrel.
This year it will cost not far of $56 per barrel.
This is the type of looming storm that is unprecedented in our history.
Can't be avoided now.

[regis80]

This is clearly the effects of the Pandemic and the current Labour government in charge.

[mickd1961]

This is clearly the effects of the Pandemic and the current Labour government in charge.

It would be the same whoever was in charge Regis.

As they always say, “when America sneezes the U.K. catches a cold”.......only this time, with the s h I t storm of world events it makes you realise how inconsequential we actually are.

[kettering_baggie]

We had ideas of going back to the USA in 2020 but Covid put paid to that. A return to Nashville and Yellowstone were to be on our agenda but I can’t see that happening any time soon, if ever.

[mickd1961]

We had ideas of going back to the USA in 2020 but Covid put paid to that. A return to Nashville and Yellowstone were to be on our agenda but I can’t see that happening any time soon, if ever.

My daughter went to NY earlier this year and was very disappointed, it was a shadow of the vibrant city we'd all visited in 2016.

I've even heard Americans recently saying the same themselves Kets.

I'm desperate to return to Australia but I refuse to wear a mask for the entire flight which is what they're still insisting on.

[regis80]

It would be the same whoever was in charge Regis.
.

Maybe Mick, but i’m sure you’ve said so yourself we’ve been too reliant on russian energy. The problem is our politicians don’t think long term to become self sufficient, not just on energy. They are just in it for themselves, pure greed getting in the way of longer term growth. Take HS2 - is that really a benefit? It’s nothing short of a tory money grabbing scheme.. just like they did during the pandemic. This sort of stuff makes me sick. We’ll never grow long term when people are in it for themselves. Never trust a salesman is what I say.

Im sure you mentioned we ought to have gone for fracking? With that being controversial i’m not sure that’s the ultimate solution.. but why are our politicians not doing anything about it?

I have to question why politicians several months ago had a pay rise issued/agreed by the ‘independent’ paymaster. It’s nonsense. Makes you wonder if they knew what was coming to cover themselves. It’s all rotten to the core.

With all of the above just little examples means we’ll never have a good defence for when we are heading for a recession and when the pound drops to parity with the dollar.

Germany just announced 60billion for their energy crisis costs. Truss, has a plan.. but won’t know and will not deliver after a week. This two faced lying cow to please any person will do anything to win.

[Yarmbaggie]

As far as I can tell the UK only gets between 3 and 4% of our gas from Russia.

[baggieal]

My daughter went to NY earlier this year and was very disappointed, it was a shadow of the vibrant city we'd all visited in 2016.

I've even heard Americans recently saying the same themselves Kets.

I'm desperate to return to Australia but I refuse to wear a mask for the entire flight which is what they're still insisting on.

NY a fantastic place and feel safer walking around there than London. Also much tidier and no litter anywhere like a U.K. city. Some airlines do ask you to wear a mask but they don’t enforce it - just came back from Dubai with Emirates and many including ourselves did not wear a mask the whole flight ( both ways ) and crew were not bothered.

Back to the filthy U.K. but the filth and litter is caused by the people and lack of staff.

[Dubbag]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NOW7i7aWQoE