Economy's impact on students, restaurants

Some college students are having second thoughts about where they will end up after graduation. But even with the slow economy, many Utahns still are going out to eat.

A degree in finance or an MBA used to be the golden ticket. Students could dream of either Beverly Hills or a cozy house up in the benches.

"It just seems like the teachers are worried, also, you know. My finance teacher is telling me, ‘You guys have it in for you.' That's saying it right there," one student told us.

Angst and anxiety have one business student postponing graduation.

"It kind of makes me nervous. I'm thinking that I'm just going to go for a master's degree rather than going straight into the job market," she said.

Stanford reports fewer recruiting calls from the banks.

The economic ups and downs have caused a lot of Utahns to rethink their spending over the past several weeks. But many still are going out to eat.

At Rodizio Grill in Salt Lake City, Operations Director David Knighton says he was worried the unstable atmosphere on Wall Street would turn into fewer customers. But during the last few weeks, business has been good.

"I think a lot of people come here to sort of relax, get away, and have fun. It's a great place to let loose a little, so maybe that's what it is," he said.

He says the number of customers was down 10 to 15 percent earlier this year when gasoline cost more than $4 a gallon. But business picked up as gas prices went down.

The National Restaurant Association sent out a press release thanking Congress for the economic stabilization package, saying restaurants are looking to expand but were having a hard time getting the loans to do it.

E-mail: rjeppesen@ksl.com

E-mail: tcallan@ksl.com

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