Las Vegas airport passenger traffic fell 16 percent in January, accelerating its 2008 decline, as consumers curbed travel spending and airlines cut aircraft capacity to the city.

McCarran International Airport passenger arrivals and departures slid to 3.02 million last month, from 3.58 million a year earlier, the Clark County Department of Aviation said. Last year's 7.7 percent passenger decline was the airport's second-worst annual slump.

Airlines including US Airways Group Inc., Southwest Airlines Co., and UAL Corp.'s United Airlines have cut flights to Las Vegas, collectively trimming about 15 percent of seats available versus a year ago as demand wanes in the recession.

Boyd Gaming Corp., which operates several Las Vegas hotels frequented by Hawai'i residents, on Thursday said its fourth-quarter decline in earnings was due in part to a drop off in visitors from the Islands.

AVERAGE GAS PRICE UP 3 CENTS

The average price of a gallon of gasoline statewide rose 3 cents this week, AAA Hawaii reported yesterday.

A gallon of regular averaged $2.45, up from $2.42 the previous week, the AAA said in its Hawaii Weekend Gas Watch.

In Honolulu, the average price was $2.37 a gallon, up 2 cents from last week. The Honolulu average was up 10 cents from a month ago, but $1.03 lower than a year ago.

In Hilo, the average price was $2.56 a gallon, up 6 cents from a week ago. It was 11 cents higher than a month ago, but $1 lower than a year ago.

The average price in Wailuku of $2.61 a gallon was up 5 cents from last week. It was up 12 cents from a month ago, but down $1.28 from a year ago.

QUIKSILVER TO OPEN IN SOUTH KAUA'I

Quiksilver is expanding to Kaua'i's South Shore this summer with a new store in the Kukui'ula Village shopping center.

The 2,400-square-foot store will be licensed and operated by local retail entrepreneur Eric Miura.

The store will offer a mix of Quiksilver and Roxy sportswear, accessories, surfboards, bodyboards and skateboards. The store also will carry an assortment of Stand Up Paddle surfboards by Paddle Surf Hawai'i and paddles by Kialoa and Quick Blade.