European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 25, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Consumer watch w Dollar they am flip new  Stanley Ash tort Toft and Mii a t we Wilt for order at a hut food drive to.  Obed Dutt to dropping Dollar not keeping them at Home on j m. New in i i _. By Mary Neth consumer editor despite a dropping Dollar americans in Europe Haven t stopped going downtown. Compared to the 12-year High of the Greenback in february 1985, the current Exchange fates Are a Bummer. They Hurt Tut no one is in a panic in Germany where Tho majority of Trie american military in Europe is stationed the Dollar has been sinking alarmingly As of july 21 to 2.12 Marks from that super High Exchange Rale of 3.47 Marks 1w years ago. Those who have enjoyed slipping across the Border to Franca for Good food and wine May not be taking a jaunts As often the nine franc Dollar Rale has plunged to six. Similar Dollar losses have been recorded against the St less franc and italian lira but everyone agrees it could be worse. It was worse during the iranian crisis of 1979. Then he Dollar hit a record Low. Safes of German Marks to . Personnel were Down to 1.69 to the Dollar. The Dollar bought Only 1.57 Swiss cranes and 4.03 French francs. The Pound was valued at $2.19. So the Dollar i Tolu far from the Bottom and you Don t have to search to find americans in local stores. Joy Leonard who lives in Maples Italy says the Dollar drop in t noticed too Muffi when it comes to smaller purchases. Ii does to for example keep the family irom dining out. Big ticket items such As the monthly rent Are another Mailer. When we first signed our contract last october our rent came to $635. Now we Are paying $800 or  Sho says the housing allowance her husband receives As part of his military pay Check just does t cover the amount of the currency fluctuation. According to her he is basically drawing pretty much the same As hews when the lira was up. She notes that the weak Dollar is a big topic of conversation among americans who arrived last summer when the Dollar was Strong. Not so for the old timers who Are used to the currency  and Downs. In Germany one of the popular shopping places for americans is the wer Kauf Chain. This is like a German Kmart says Richie Harris who works at the a a slant Germany civilian learning resource Center. On a recent super hoi summer Day Harris Pam Caughell Ami Rose Russi a military policewoman Wilh the Page 16 the stars and stripes 256lh my customs co were browsing at the German shopping Center. For hams possible Price advantages at an Exchange Are cancelled out by the the Lime and expense of getting there we figure we would pay As much in Gas driving around to different pcs to find what we  on this visit to Weri taut Caughell and Russi Hava been eyeing the store s selection of summer shorts and undresses. We took around see we do Back Home. Use even German food  says laughed. We five on Trie Economy. It is More convenient to shop in the  Russ nods in agreement. We Don t have the time to go to cafes she says adding that she does t think prices Are All that different in any Case. Some things Are cheaper some Are More expensive. In the German stores there s a larger selection and you can comparison  Down a few Al let. Spec. 4 Ken Clausen who is on his second German Lour says he does notice a difference Rrt prices Irtis time around. When we were Over Here before things were less expensive. We used to really spend a lot of Money downtown on mrs visit he and his wife Carol Are looking at furniture. They have a new apartment and need above Ell things for the bedroom. I Don t believe even with the drop in the Dollar that furniture prices Are As High As in the United states says Carol who notes though that they Are watching their spending. She says they Don t go out alot except to places on Post the movies pizza shop Little clubs americans in Germany Slid Dine Oul but not As often unless it s at one of the Faal food outlets. Wolfgang Frese who owns the Ihl Pohler Steak aus near Bremen says about half his clientele is american the moderately priced restaurant is on the fringe of town far enough away from Tho Lucius d. Clay Cavern in Karlstedt and military housing areas in osterhos Schrambeck to require car transportation. Frese has noticed a drop in his american business end sees a direct Rel Alron to the falling Exchange rate he says that when the Dollar goes below the 2.50 Mark Rale he always loses customers. If the Amis Amert eans did t coma at All i would be  he says he estimates that his business is of by about 10 percent this summer compared to a year ago though dining in Middle to expensive Range restaurants May be in the doldrums fast foods Are still moving fast. In Mainz Vaslef. Jutla Zimmerman manager of the Kentucky Fried Chicken drive in Friday july 25,1986 restaurant says hot weather is the Only thing recently that has caused a Slack in sales. Americans who make up the majority of her customers practically stopped coming jus after the bombing of Libya in april. Now they Are Back and the fluctuating def Lar does l Saem to bother them secs. Stanley aah food and William Owen recently had Lunchi Al the Chicken restaurant the 6.60 Mark in act Box Fried Chicken Fries coleslaw. Both had cokes 1 50 Marks and Ashford had a 2.bo Mark Corn on the cob. For a total of 19.40 Marks at the Day s 2.1 7 Mark to a Dollar Exchange Rato that s $8.94 for both Thev think he Price is right the cafes Burger bar in t much cheaper " Saya to tri"19 he prefers sur9er kin9 in any  cafes mini breakfast though is Good and a bargain at 99  aah Ford says his wife still does a lot of shopping on the  she goes to a a Hertie. The Kau Halle he says you can find Good buys. I get Blank video tapes $"",1 to own Ltan at the pm Tor  Bot believe thai prices in Germany Beal those Back Home. F .c5f men Aren As cheers Asne proprietors of fast food chains. The Dollar slump is making it rough to interest people in new wheels. Tim Earl is an englishman who runs Aulo sales r eme a sign advertising a 1984 opel Kadel Wilh european specs hanging on one Wall tells the Story the car it Steyh he re �2?� 6ut in thesis Bettone Price there is the word negotiable " buying a car in Marks can be a crazy venture Lor Randy Shade Salesman Al the Auto sales slow that rather tells the  we Jimlo twi on i