The strong peso could be a blow for Mexico's tourism industry. The sector is already suffering fallout from higher fuel prices and an explosion of narcotics-related violence that has dissuaded millions of U.S. day-trippers from crossing the border.
A weakening dollar also means that Mexican families who depend on remittances sent by loved ones working in the United States end up with less cash once those greenbacks are converted into pesos.
Still, a strong national currency boosts the purchasing power of Mexican consumers. It's particularly advantageous for those who live near the northern border and can cross into the United States, where their pesos are stretching further every day.
American retailers are eager to court this business. El Paso, Texas, depends heavily on shoppers from neighboring Ciudad Juarez, said Victor Venegas, marketing and outreach coordinator for the El Paso Economic Development Department.
He said a strong peso meant more business for places such as the Outlet Shoppes at El Paso.
"When the economic situation improves in Mexico, the economic situation improves in El Paso," he said.
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marla.dickerson@latimes.com
