The strength of the Canadian dollar is not being felt in U.S. states along the border as much as some merchants thought it would.
Store owners expected the rising value of what’s known in Canada as the loonie would bring more businesses because the Canadian dollar now goes farther in the United States.
But merchants in Newport and the shopping mecca of Williston say they haven’t seen a substantial rise.
On Friday, one Canadian dollar fetched about 94 U.S. cents.
The Bank of Canada said the loonie had reached a low of 62 cents in January 2002. There are some businesses that have reported increased traffic.
Twice as many Canadians have stayed at The Sheraton Burlington Hotel and Conference Center in South Burlington compared to this time last year.