Las Vegas is showing signs of strain, which is bad news for the city's tourism business and a warning sign for the wider economy.

• Visitors are angry about hotel and casino costs, where almost everything now carries an extra charge.
• Eight storefronts at the shops at Caesars Forum sit dark and out of business, with a few "coming soon" signs just filling in for failed stores.
• Fewer people are flying private, and more are cutting travel budgets and going commercial.
• Thinner crowds in a city that lives on visitor spending is a classic early recession signal.

Outlook: Expect more closures and weaker visitor numbers in Las Vegas over the coming months.