p.s. It snowed here a little during yesterday's morning commute.

Here's a description from a Houston t.v. station of how much Christmas shopping Mexicans -- Chihuahuenses, in particular -- do in the Southwest U.S. This tracks with what we've heard here. After Thanksgiving, Walmart and the Eastside El Paso malls are impossible to shop at, due to all the Chihuahuans and their list of presents.

p.s.s. I think Mexico bans imports of products made in China...

Proximity, prices attract shoppers from across the border

06:39 PM CST on Friday, December 8, 2006

By Angela Kocherga / 11 News

Click to watch video

With only 16 shopping days until Christmas retailers say holiday sales look encouraging.

Some of those sales in Texas come from our neighbors from Mexico.

Many shoppers are crossing the border to spend their Christmas bonuses.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas along the border.

Shoppers from Mexico are making a list and spending their cash in U.S. malls.

“The shoppers there are very savvy and they’re very brand oriented,” said Cindy Foght, Simon Malls area marketing director.

Proximity and prices attracted Catalina Estrada from Ciudad Juarez.

She’s buying gifts for her grandchildren.

During the holidays more than half of the shoppers at this El Paso mall are from Mexico.

“It becomes very important because you know not only do you have the people that do travel say by air, but then you’re also able to take advantage of everyone driving,” Foght explained.

Monica Henrichs drove three hours from Chihuahua City to the border for the prices and quality

She bought high end handbags and trendy clothing for her daughter, but still saved money.

Import taxes in Mexico make many items more expensive.

A holiday tradition in Mexico makes this season especially merry for U.S. retailers in Border States. By law most employees in Mexico are entitled to a Christmas bonus, which can be as high as a month’s worth of salary.

Those bonuses boost sales and make the season bright across the southwest.

And the benefits extend beyond the border to Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and more recently Phoenix.

Some of those cities have shopping packages from Mexico that include airfare and a hotel.

And the benefits extend beyond the border to Houston and other Texas cities, many of which offer shopping packages from Mexico to include airfare and a hotel.

© 2006 khou.com