I am in the import business with most of my purchases denominated in US funds whether the imports are from e.g. New Zealand, China or Thailand. Obviously this helps us in a big way just as the 1.60 hurt us last year. We are involved in the currency business in a big way and I believe that the Canadian currency is benefitting from the greater issue which is the failure of China and Japan to allow their currency to float rather than be tied to the US $. In order to maintain the Chinese currency at its rate to the US$ China must continue to buy US currency. At the end of July according to the Shanghai Post, China held $115 Billion of US currency and must continue to buy, given the imbalance of trade between the two countries and the influx of currency from countries like Canada who pay in US funds. I believe that the US has made a conscious decision to allow its currency to trend downward so that it is increasingly difficult for the Asian countries to maintain their exchange rate. If the Chinese currency is allowed to float, they will realize less RMB when cashing in the US sale prices and prices will trend higher over time. This is probably the hope of the US to help stem the tide of purchases from the far east and the job losses in the US. This is my opinion anyway & is seen from my perspective. The other internal reasons for a low US $ can be presented by others.