VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Students may feel the back-to-school dread starting to creep up on them, but for parents it is quickly becoming the most wonderful time of the year.

New statistics show there is a good chance moms and dads will be crossing the border to stock up on school supplies and new clothes. The trend has been brought on my higher duty-free limits and Canadian loonie hitting par with the American dollar.

John tells us his wife has gone across the border to pick up back-to-school stuff for their daughter.

“Just jeans and shoes and stuff like that,” he said, adding that with the exchange, as far as he is concerned, it is worth it to make the trip across the boarder.

As of June 1, the duty-free limit for Canadian shopping in the United States quadrupled to $200 but visitors have to stay state side for 24-hours to qualify.  Because of this, the number of hotel room bookings in some areas just south of the line has has jumped up in recent months.

Overnight travel to the United States rose 7.5 per cent to 1.9 million trips in June, which is the highest level since 1972.