Friday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 11/13/2015

Business inventories on the rise

U.S. business inventories unexpectedly rose in September amid flat sales, suggesting the government's third-quarter economic growth estimate could be revised higher later this month. The Commerce Department said on Friday inventories increased 0.3 percent after an upwardly revised 0.1 percent gain in August. More from Reuters and the AP.

Port Manatee among top 20 U.S. niche ports

Southwest Florida's deepwater seaport was named by “Global Trade” magazine as one of “Top 20 Niche Ports in the United States.” The local port was one of only two in Florida on the list, the other being the much-larger Port of Jacksonville. More at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

International smart sensors summit headed to Orlando

The smart sensors market is expected to have a global impact of $154 billion by 2020 and a U.S impact of $46 billion. The creation of the Florida Advanced Manufacturing Research Center and the planned tech campus is projected to create nearly 20,000 high-tech jobs. More at the Orlando Business Journal.

Uber teams with Voalte to get you to doctor appointments

Sarasota Memorial Hospital and Uber, the smartphone-based taxi-cab alternative company, have teamed up with Sarasota-based Voalte to make it easier to arrange a ride to a doctor or to other medical appointment. More at the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Gov. Scott wants colleges to improve graduation rates

Florida Gov. Rick Scott is calling on the state's colleges to improve their graduation rates. Scott on Thursday challenged Florida's 28 public colleges to boost the number of students who graduate. More at the AP.

Retirement
Social Security Calculator

In an attempt to keep workers from retiring and then discovering later that their Social Security benefits aren't stretching far enough, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Thursday launched a free tool that can help you calculate monthly benefits before you take the plunge into retirement.

» More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Florida Originals
Air Space

The Marion County fly-in community of Jumbolair, home to the longest privately-owned airstrip in the country, has a quirky history and a new owner. Once, it was home to African elephants and then a horse farm. Today John Travolta’s house is one of 10 at the 550-acre gated community.