A small UK retailer sells china plates in the UK. Its main competitors are foreign firms. The value of the pound increases compared to the US$.
Which of the following would be the MOST LIKELY results of this change in the £/US$ exchange rate for the UK retailer?
Select ONE answer:
- The retailer’s UK sales will increase as the UK retailer’s products will seem cheaper
- His competitors plates will seem more expensive
- The businesses products will seem more expensive in comparison to the foreign imports
- The businesses sales will fall
- The business will be more competitive
A strong £ means lots of $ to the £. This means that £1 buys more foreign currency, e.g. £1 today buys $2 compared to £1 a month ago when it bought $1.50. Goods imported into the UK will be cheaper for consumers. An iPad might cost £300 instead of the price a month ago of £400. For businesses exporting to the US, a strong £ means their products will appear more expensive to US consumers, e.g. a Dyson vacuum goes up to $500 compared to $400 the month before. If a strong £ continues, exporters cannot sell products abroad and businesses in the UK cannot compete with cheap imports. What might be the financial impact for these businesses if this continues?
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This is multiple choice question is suitable for Business Studies KS4 classes.
The answer is 3 – The cost of selling china plates at $50 per plate in the UK at an exchange rate of $2 to £1 is £25 for a foreign firm. The cost of selling china plates at $50 per plate in the UK at an exchange rate of $4 to £1 is £12.55 for a foreign firm, a price improvement of £12.5 for a foreign firm selling into the UK.

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