Business roundup - al.com

Business roundup - al.com: "Tourism and travel-related spending in Alabama grew 3 percent last year, shaking off an economic recession that began in December 2007, according to figures released Tuesday.

Tourism officials said nearly 22.4 million people visited Alabama last year and spent nearly $9.6 billion in the state. Those visitors also paid $702 million in state and local lodging and sales taxes. It was the 10th straight year of rising travel-related expenditures."