Thank god the U.S. economy is shit, otherwise New York would be in real trouble.

Last night, negotiations between the League of American Theaters and Producers and the stagehand union fell apart. The producers have canceled all performances through next Sunday. As the talks stand now, there’s no reason to believe that Broadway will be back for Christmas.

Restaurants, bars and pedicabs have suffered from the strike, which began on November 10. The comptroller’s office estimates that the stagehands’ strike is costing the city $2 million a day. (For those counting at home, that’s $18 million so far.)

Tourism has not waned completely, since most hotel rooms were booked before the strike. Besides, most foreign tourists are not in town for the Phantom of the Opera; they’re here for the weak dollar.

But if the strike continues, The American Girl Place might not be enough of a draw for domestic travelers. And with any luck Midtown will be tolerable next month.