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Surge in Christmas shopping breaks to the US

Tuesday, 26 November 20133 min read

Virgin Holidays is reporting a surge of interest in Christmas shopping breaks to the US.

The sixth annual Post Office Travel Money Christmas Shopping Guide, produced jointly with Virgin Holidays for the first time, reveals that US stores have pegged their prices at 2012 levels to undercut London.

It claims Brits can cut 40-50% off some of their Christmas gifts if they shop in the US rather than the UK.

The Post Office has produced a shopping guide showing the best bargains are on jeans and US designer label clothes in New York and Boston compared to London.

Electronic gadgets also cost less, with most priced at 18-26% below London levels.

However while most of the items researched were cheaper in the US, British brands like Ted Baker and Burberry are 38% more than in London.

Also, while some fragrance, make-up and skincare brands like Benefit, Clinique and Elizabeth Arden are cheaper Stateside, French brands like Guerlain and Clarins are as much as 28% more in the States.

Commenting on the high demand for US city breaks, Virgin Holidays head of product & commercial Angus Bond said: "Virgin Holidays is seeing an increase in enquiries from customers seeking great deals on money-saving shopping trips in New York or Boston."