High US prices in CAD are keeping Canadians at home

With the USD approaching a 5-year high against the CAD - the strongest the USD has been since the onset of the COVID pandemic - traffic, commerce and tourism in New England border states are suffering.

The CAD has been falling in value since mid-October, with no sign of a turnaround anytime soon.

During the pandemic, December 2021 Canada-Maine traffic was only 25% of that seen in December 2019.

An exchange rate similar to today's recorded in 2016 caused a 32% drop in Canada-US highway traffic.

For Maine tourism businesses, less traffic from Canada means fewer bed nights booked at hotels, fewer restaurant meals served, fewer souvenirs and less gasoline sold.

Canadians spent about $300,000 in Maine in 2019.