The research was carried out with the help of Cheapflights in October, with costings adjusted on November 11 when the pound was worth $1.231. The work discovered savings of between 23% and 62% on a basket of 10 goods, which was an average 43% cheaper.
They included a £55.51 saving on a Star Wars light saber (down from £89.99 to £34.48) and a £27.50 reduction on a pair of Vans men’s shoes, bringing them down to £19.50. Shoppers can also save 47% off the cost of Finding Dory’s My Friend Dory and 23% off Ray Ban sunglasses.
The findings conclude that there are still substantial savings to be had despite the fall in the pound, with a basket that would cost £649 in the UK coming in at less than £370, which is £20 under the duty free allowance for goods bought in the US.
Andrew Brown, director of Post Office Travel Money, said: “Our survey of over 150 items makes it clear that there are still some rich pickings for savvy shoppers, which could result in savings of hundreds of pounds spent on Christmas shopping. However, sterling is still 16% weaker than last November so it is now doubly important for UK visitors to do their homework before parting with cash.”
The research also revealed brands to avoid when shopping in the US. Most big British names, including Karen Millen, Ted Baker, All Saints and Superdry were substantially more expensive in New York than in London. The findings also highlight that savings on electronic goods have been almost wiped out by the fall in sterling. “It will pay dividends to know which brands to choose and which to avoid,” added Brown.
