Real spending on travel and tourism decelerated in the third quarter of 2013, increasing at an annual rate of 2.5 percent after increasing 3.5 percent (revised) in the second quarter of 2013.
Real Tourism Spending. Real spending on “passenger air transportation” continued to decelerate, increasing 6.2 percent in the third quarter after increasing 14.8 percent in the second quarter. Real spending on “food services and drinking places” turned down, decreasing 0.7 percent in the third quarter after increasing 0.8 percent in the second quarter.
Tourism Prices. Prices for “all other transportation-related commodities” turned up, increasing 9.5 percent in the third quarter after decreasing 12.6 percent in the second quarter, reflecting an upturn in the price of gasoline, which increased during the summer travel season. Prices for “passenger air transportation” turned up, increasing 5.8 percent in the third quarter after decreasing 8.5 percent in the second quarter.
Tourism Employment. Employment in the travel and tourism industries decelerated in the third quarter, increasing 1.3 percent after increasing 2.8 percent in the second quarter. The primary contributors to the deceleration in employment were a downturn in “traveler accommodations” and a deceleration in “food services and drinking places.”
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