The euro is crushing the $$$

[CSteve]

I just purchased 433 euros worth of parts from TomHom. A great seller as many of us know. We did the "Gift valued at under $100.00" Dance.

It took $554.00 to cover 433 euros. The $$ has fallen 10% since Trump took office. Fact, not a political statement. I am restraining myself. It is not that long ago those 433 euros would have cost me less than $433.00.

I guesstimate that Trump's Tariffs, not a political statement. I am restraining myself once again, would have cost me about $100.00 more. So here is the Math:

Weak dollar costs me $121.00

Estimated Tariffs if we did not do the "Dance" $100.00

Total projected cost to pay Thomas 433 euros $655.00

I know some of you are saying, "Hey Steve, you got yourself a bargain." I agree.

The next time I write about the weakling dollar exchange rate and tariffs they will have to put me in restraints.

 

[HB Chris]

We’re with you Steve

 

[boonies]

We’re with you Steve

100%

 

[JMinPDX]

In normal times a weak dollar could be good for U.S. manufacturing because it makes American goods (exports) more attractive world wide. But these are not normal times.
Europeans are using smart phone apps to identify U.S. products so they can avoid them.

Apps to boycott US goods gained traction in crisis over Greenland

The makers of mobile apps designed to help shoppers identify and boycott U.S. goods say they saw a surge of interest in Denmark and beyond after the recent flare-up in tensions over Greenland

abcnews.go.com

Even U.S. automobile manufacturers will feel the consequences of the isolationist tilt of our current government.

Canada's auto industry plan signals latest pivot away from US

The steps to bolster Canada's auto industry come as Trump's tariffs strain the sector and threaten jobs.

www.bbc.com

If you’re trying to do business overseas, they will get you coming or going.

 

[sfdon]

If you bought from Walloth your cost would have been over $800.00


Don’t forget a Valentine’s Day card for Thom- everybody here loves him now!

 

[dpdapper]

Try paying a mortgage in Euros with USD. Ask me how I know. But it’s still better than when the euro was $1.50 a few years ago.

 

[Clubsport_CSi]

Well, the exchange rate made me feel less shocked when I paid >50$ for a Burger and a Space Dust IPA while beeing in San Francisco

 

[sfdon]

According to a report by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the US was projected to lose a staggering $12.5bn (£9.35bn) in international visitor spending in 2025. Of the 184 nations analysed by the WTTC and Oxford Economics, the US was the only one forecasted to see a decline in international visitor spending last year.


Great job…..

I’m sending spare money via Wise to my daughter in Porto.

.058 commission allows me to ride the Trump death spiral in the dollar to my benefit.

2029 is just around the corner- America will once again be a friend to our allies and our currency will once again be the standard of the world.

 

[CSteve]

For all the reasons we know all too well, Don's Tourism numbers above are just one example of the reason I feel by mid-summer or earlier we will be in a major recession. Great Recession II. The SEC has labeled major stock companies funds "Nondiversified." Funds like Vanguard's "safe" funds that track the Fortune 500 or some other group of stocks has said that the concentration of AI, Cryptofund, Amazon and other funds in potentially dangerous territory can no longer be called "Diversified."

I called my financial guy recently to find out if my funds had any crypto companies. He said TIAA does not hold a single crypto fund. I called him again yesterday to see if any of my money was in "Nondiversified" funds. Answer, NOPE.

Here is a link to the article in the New York Times Business Section on Feb. 6th. I sent it to my son, as he, like millions of Americans is responsibe for allocating his retirement money into those SCAM 401Ks.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/business/stock-market-concentration-risk.html?searchResultPosition=1