Importers - long term £vs$ projections?
Discussion
Any other importers getting a little worried with the sterling?
We have seen our cost prices up 30% in 6 months with the far east manufaturing costs rising and the weak pound.
Any ideas on long term projections? When may we see it start to turn round?
How long is a peice of string I hear you say....
Any 'experts' out there with a guess?
We have seen our cost prices up 30% in 6 months with the far east manufaturing costs rising and the weak pound.
Any ideas on long term projections? When may we see it start to turn round?
How long is a peice of string I hear you say....
Any 'experts' out there with a guess?
I've been watching this very closely with a brand new business just manufacturing, in China, our first batch of product - half has been sold to the USA and half to the UK - so I like a strong dollar to a degree as my margins are narrower in the USA, I gain on the forex (product will retail circa $23 in the USA and circa £18 in UK) but obviously lose in UK so I have to have a slightly higher margin here.
Check out the bottom of page 2:
http://www.rbs.com/content/economic/downloads/uk/f...
http://www.rbs.com/content/economic/downloads/uk/f...
| Period | $ per £ | $ per € | £ per € | ¥ per $ | Euro refi rate | US Funds rate | UK Bank rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Q1 | 1.99 | 1.58 | 0.80 | 100 | 4.00 | 4.25 | 5.25 |
| Q2 | 1.99 | 1.58 | 0.79 | 106 | 4.00 | 2.25 | 5.00 |
| Q3 | 1.78 | 1.40 | 0.79 | 106 | 4.00 | 2.00 | 5.00 |
| Q4 | 1.54 | 1.31 | 0.85 | 100 | 2.50 | 0.50 | 2.00 |
| 2009 Q1 | 1.53 | 1.30 | 0.85 | 98 | 2.00 | 0.25 | 1.50 |
| Q2 | 1.51 | 1.27 | 0.84 | 95 | 2.00 | 0.25 | 1.00 |
| Q3 | 1.51 | 1.24 | 0.82 | 93 | 1.50 | 0.25 | 1.00 |
| Q4 | 1.48 | 1.20 | 0.81 | 92 | 1.50 | 0.25 | 1.00 |
| 2010 Q1 | 1.49 | 1.18 | 0.79 | 90 | 1.50 | 0.25 | 1.00 |
| Q2 | 1.51 | 1.18 | 0.78 | 90 | 1.50 | 0.25 | 1.00 |
| Q3 | 1.54 | 1.17 | 0.76 | 90 | 1.50 | 0.25 | 1.00 |
| Q4 | 1.56 | 1.17 | 0.75 | 90 | 1.50 | 0.25 | 1.00 |
Edited by mrmr96 on Thursday 4th December 17:14
My hunch is that nothing will improve significantly/sustainably for a year at least.
I know nothing, but bear in mind that (1) I suggested to my IFA in the spring that it might be an idea to get out of equities, and (2) prior to that mooted a delfationary spiral like Japan. He ignored me of course, and stupidly I ignored myself
I know nothing, but bear in mind that (1) I suggested to my IFA in the spring that it might be an idea to get out of equities, and (2) prior to that mooted a delfationary spiral like Japan. He ignored me of course, and stupidly I ignored myself

sam.r said:
Any other importers getting a little worried with the sterling?
We have seen our cost prices up 30% in 6 months with the far east manufaturing costs rising and the weak pound.
Any ideas on long term projections? When may we see it start to turn round?
How long is a peice of string I hear you say....
Any 'experts' out there with a guess?
If you want it back to 2:1 then i feel it will be a very very long wait, in fact that boat has sailed..We have seen our cost prices up 30% in 6 months with the far east manufaturing costs rising and the weak pound.
Any ideas on long term projections? When may we see it start to turn round?
How long is a peice of string I hear you say....
Any 'experts' out there with a guess?
as a side issue i think the printing presses could start to roll?
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