The Indian rupee dropped by 13 paise to 54.48 against the American currency in the late morning trade on fresh dollar demand from banks and importers in viewof firm dollar overseas. The rupee resumed lower at 54.44 per dollar as against the last closing level of 54.35 per dollar at the Interbank Foreign Exchange Market. It hovered in a range of 54.39 per dollar and 54.52 per dollar before quoting at 54.48 per dollar at 1050 hrs.In New York market, the dollar remained strong against the basket of currencies after Congress passed a bill to avoidmuch of the fiscal-cliff tax increases and delayed spendingcuts.