U.S. millionaire tally hits 9.63 million

There are more millionaires in the United States than ever before.

The number of households with net worth of

$1 million or more, excluding their homes, is at a record 9.63 million, according to a new report.

That eclipses the old mark of 9.2 million in 2007, before the global financial crisis, according to the Spectrem Group research firm. The tally of millionaires slipped to 6.7 million in 2008 as the financial crisis struck.

The study reinforces other data showing that the wealthy are doing well compared with many other segments of society.

"Most of the financial damage done by the recession has been erased by recent record-high markets in 2013 as well as continued rebound in the real estate markets," said George H. Walper Jr., Spectrem president.

Rich people have been helped by the rebound in the stock market and the recovery in home prices in more exclusive areas. They also got a boost from superior creditworthiness, which allowed them to take advantage of record-low interest rates in recent years.

The number of households with $25 million or more also is at a new high of 132,000, according to Spectrem.

SeaWorld reports record-revenue year

ORLANDO, Fla. » Attendance slipped at SeaWorld-owned theme parks during the final three months of last year, but the Orlando-based theme-park owner said 2013 was nonetheless a record financial year as it rang up a company-record $1.5 billion in revenue.

Approximately 4.5 million people visited SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. parks in the fourth quarter, down 1.4 percent from the same period a year ago.

Overall attendance dipped even though the company said its "SeaWorld-branded" parks — which include the Aquatica and Discovery Cove brands — combined to post their best-ever attendance for the period, which includes the busy holiday season.

SeaWorld, which owns several regional amusement parks that close during the winter, also posted a wider loss than it did a year ago: $13.5 million, compared with an $8.8 million loss during the fourth quarter of 2012.

Revenue rose 3 percent for the quarter to $272 million, driven primarily by higher average prices for tickets, food and souvenirs.

Dannon to reduce sugar in kids’ yogurt

NEW YORK » Dannon says it will cut back the amount of sugar in its yogurts intended for children. The move is part of a variety of measures the company is taking to improve the nutritional content of its yogurts by 2016.

One of the goals outlined is to have all its yogurts for kids — such as Dani­mals — contain 23 grams or less of sugar per 6-ounce serving. The company says only 30 percent of its yogurt for kids currently meet that standard.

For yogurts aimed at adults, Dannon says 70 percent of its products will meet that threshold for sugar, up from 62 percent.

The company is also committing to having 75 percent of its yogurts be low-fat or fat-free by 2016, up from 68 percent. Dannon, a unit of Paris-based Danone, makes Light & Fit, Activia and Oikos Greek yogurt.

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