Friday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today

| 2/19/2016

Consumer prices show signs of acceleration

Core consumer prices – those that exclude the volatile food and energy categories -- rose more than expected in January, perhaps supporting the Federal Reserve’s longstanding prediction that inflation will gradually rise toward the central bank’s 2% target. More from the AP., FOX Business, and U.S. News & World Report.

Fort Myers-based marketing agency embraces the gig economy

Victory Marketing Agency handles staffing for as many as 1,000 parties, events and conventions a month all over the country. But with a full-time staff of just 20 people, Victory relies on an army of more than 20,000 freelancers. More from the Business Observer.

Blacktech Week: Innovating, scaling, giving back

Blacktech Week, now in its second year, is a celebration of innovators of color. But more important to co-founders Felecia Hatcher and Derick Pearson, the week of events aims to inspire the current and next generations to be makers and shapers in the digital revolution — and not to be left on the sidelines. More from the Miami Herald.

Lawmakers look to free clinics as health care solution

With a dwindling pool of state money available to cover the uninsured, lawmakers are increasingly turning one of the lowest-cost options of all: charity clinics. More from the Tampa Bay Times.

Once big home buyers in Southwest Florida, Canadians are starting to sell

Escaping from the chilly north, Canadians always have been eager buyers of Southwest Florida vacation and retirement homes. But now a lower loonie compared with the U.S. dollar is causing a reverse flow, heating up the sale of Canadian-owned homes in the United States. More from the Naples Daily News.

Research
Testosterone treatment effective for older men

As men age, their sexual function, vitality and strength can decline, but researchers had not yet established whether testosterone treatment is actually beneficial. Now, a team that included UF Health researchers has established testosterone’s benefits in a study published February 17 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

» More from Florida Trend.

Out of the Box
Virtual reality cruise trips

Carnival Corporation has launched a first-of-its-kind promotion. Through a partnership with Samsung’s virtual reality headset — the Samsung Gear VR, powered by Oculus — would-be cruisers can check out cruising on Carnival’s 10 brands at select AT&T stores nationwide, including three in South Florida, through March 11.