Weekend Talker: What have you cut to keep the gas tank filled?

Tourism officials think higher gas prices are keeping people closer to home this summer, which translates to better profits for the state's tourism industry, and McDonald's is blaming gas prices for a May sales slump. 

What's changed in your house because of gas prices?

Staying close to home helps the state tourism industry

State tourism officials think high gas prices could boost the state's tourism revenue by keeping people close to home, reports the Chippewa Herald.

"Most people in our target markets can get to any point in Wisconsin on a tank of gas or less," Dave Fantle, Wisconsin's deputy secretary of tourism, told the Chippewa Herald. "It's accessible, and once you get here … most amenities are what we would call affordable."

The Department of Tourism released numbers that showed 54 percent of travelers here live within the state, the Chippewa Herald reported, and most others came from neighboring states. During that same period, tourism revenue increased by 1.8 percent—$211 million.

And Gov. Scott Walker is hoping to keep tourism spending on the rise, judging by the $600,000 increase in the Department of Tourism's promotion budget, and promised increases of $1.2 million in fiscal year 2012 and $2.34 million in 2013, the Chippewa Herald reported. 

Gas prices to blame for smaller-than-expected McDonald's earning

McDonald's is blaming a smaller-than-expected rise in sales last month on gas prices in the U.S. and the poor European economy, Reuters reports. 

Analysts had expected a 2.8 percent rise in May, but the restaurant reported sales at U.S. restaurants open at least 13 months rose 2.4 percent.

McDonald's spokeswoman Heidi Barker said 800 of the company's 14,000 U.S. restaurants are on interstates, and those stores in particular have felt pressure from gas prices.