March 18, 2024

Friday's Daily Pulse

What you need to know about Florida today

| 12/19/2014

Economist: Holiday season will spark 2015 Florida economy

The holiday season is the spark that will “set the state’s economy on fire in 2015,” after lingering for 2 1/2 years longer than the national economy in recession, a Florida economist is predicting. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

See also:
» Florida's leading indicator rises slightly in October


Government efficiency recommendations

Report finds ways to tighten the state government’s belt

A report on how state government can belt-tighten through policy changes and general efficiencies has been released by Florida TaxWatch, the business-backed oversight organization. Recommendations include:

  • Reforming the Florida Retirement System
  • Expand electronic monitoring as a tool to divert non-violent offenders from prison
  • Reduce Medicaid fraud, waste, and abuse
  • Increase drawdown of available federal dollars... and much more.

An overview, and the full report from Florida TaxWatch is here.


Constantly changing online prices stump shoppers

Online shopping has become as volatile as stock market trading. Wild, minute-by-minute price swings on everything from clothes to TVs have made it difficult for holiday shoppers to "buy low." [Source: AP]


FPL gets approval to charge customers for fracking exploration

State regulators approved a proposal Thursday to allow the state's largest utility to charge its customers for natural gas exploration, an idea Duke Energy also wants to pursue. Critics of the strategy called it "socialism" for taking customer money for business ventures that the utilities should pay for with shareholder money. More from the Tampa Bay Times and Businessweek.


Citrus still an economic engine for Florida

The impact of the Florida citrus industry on the state's economy remained stable, down just 0.7 percent over five years, despite an 18 percent loss in jobs during that period, primarily because of rapidly declining production attributed to citrus greening disease. [Source: Lakeland Ledger]


ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Brevard County still showing slow growth
Over the past few weeks, Central Florida economist Hank Fishkind has explained a host of recent reports that paint an optimistic financial picture for the end of 2014. As the year comes to a close, Fishkind considers the three-year economic outlook for the area.

› Fifth Third executive ranks among nation's most social media savvy
Banks aren't typically known for being on the cutting edge, but a Fifth Third Bank executive really rocks when it comes to women in social media, according to a new ranking.

› Tech company flexReceipts raising another $1M
Windermere-based tech company flexReceipts is raising another round of capital, about $1 million, said founder Tomas Diaz. The company provides a platform for merchants to distribute digital receipts, complete with new marketing and tracking tools.

› Miami’s own film studio work advances
The Florida Film & Television Center, formerly called the Miami Entertainment Center, is under construction in a building that the agency bought in 2011 for $3.1 million.


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