According to a report out Saturday from the Associated Press, malls and hotels are now affected by the mortgage crunch sweeping the nation as many of them are facing foreclosure.

"When it comes to businesses having problems ... it ripples throughout the entire economy. We're not immune," said St. Clairsville Hampton Inn Assistant Manager Jack Poling.

The AP said malls and hotels in Georgia, New York, Tennessee and several other states are facing the new economic crisis.

However Poling said, as far as he knows, Valley hotels and malls are doing OK.

Poling said the future is uncertain, as it is in many areas of the country's economy.

"Our numbers are similar to last year and I think we won't really see the effects until next year. You have to see trends and we're not seeing that this year," Poling said.

Experts predict the number of malls and hotels facing foreclosure will rise in the coming months, according to the AP.

Area malls were unavailable for comment.

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