PHP echo add spaces

Question

How do I get some empty spaces after the current logged in user first name is displayed? Just need a few spaces because it's running into something else.

<?php 

if ( is_user_logged_in() ) {
global $current_user;
      get_currentuserinfo();

echo '<span class="white-text">Welcome, &nbsp;' .$current_user->user_firstname     .       "</span>\n";}
?>

Answer 1

A better way would be not to add more spaces, but add a margin:

<span class="white-text" style="margin-right: 5em;">

Change 5em to some other number to change the amount of space.

Answer 2

echo '<span class="white-text">Welcome, &nbsp;' .$current_user->user_firstname . "  &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>\n";

each   is a "non-breaking space"