New Money

Vegas, Baby: Not so Recession Proof

By Katy Marquardt

Posted: December 30, 2008

Vegasgoers aren't such high rollers these days: They're spending less at fancy restaurants, and (gasp!) not ordering that second glass of wine, according to Time.

The number of visitors is only down 3 percent, notes Time, but gaming revenue is off 8.5 percent for the year, and a whopping 24.3 percent for October versus October 2007. Construction has fallen off, and Nevada's unemployment rate jumped to 8 percent in November--the highest since 1984.

Vegas was once considered "recession-proof," or "recession resistant." Some think the reason that's changed is that gamblers' options were historically more concentrated, and today, entertainment and lodging expenses are a bigger part of casino companies' revenue.

Or maybe gamblers are just toning it down in light of the recession.

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New Money

Katy Marquardt, a senior editor at U.S.News & World Report, takes a contemporary look at happenings in the financial world and aims to help young investors get going with their portfolios--or just sound cool at cocktail parties. Have a question? E-mail Katy at newmoney@usnews.com

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