Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Wednesday's Afternoon Update

Florida's income up slightly

Florida’s total personal income rose to $777 billion in the third quarter of 2012, an increase of 0.4 percent above the $773.5 billion recorded in the second quarter, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reported Dec. 19. The state ranked 35th nationwide in total personal income. More at the Orlando Business Journal and the Bureau of Economic Analysis.


Don’t be a stranger: Many prefer face-to-face meetings

Holiday time can bring you in contact with customers or clients you may not see the rest of the year. But if you’re expecting to be greeted with cheer you may be surprised. Frustrated business owners and senior executives say they are turned off by being the customers of a service provider who communicates mostly by email. More at the Miami Herald.


Gov. Scott: Florida needs more early voting days

Business Profile

Landrum Human Resources Cos.

Floridian
After 42 years of providing human resources services to businesses in some 31 states, H. Britt Landrum Jr. decided it was time to branch out overseas. His Pensacola firm, Landrum Human Resource Cos., this fall opened Landrum Europe in Almelo, Netherlands, teaming with EuroDev, an established European firm.

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Florida Gov. Rick Scott says the state needs a longer early voting period after some voters waited up to eight hours to cast their ballots this year. Florida’s GOP-controlled legislature cut the number of early voting days from 14 to 8 in a sweeping election bill last year, despite long lines four years ago that prompted then-Gov. Charlie Crist to extend the hours of early voting. More at the Palm Beach Post and the Miami Herald.


Florida credit unions healthy, growing

Florida's credit unions are healthier than the U.S. average and growing steadily, two new reports show. Credit rating agency BauerFinancial of Coral Gables rated credit unions in Florida as 82 percent "recommended" and just 2.5 percent "troubled and problematic" as of Sept. 30. That's an improvement from 75 percent "recommended" and 4 percent "troubled and problematic" a year earlier. More at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.


Alachua County’s landscape changing dramatically in 2013

If you thought that 2012 was a busy year for Alachua County economy, brace yourself for 2013. Business and government leaders see even more economic activity ahead in the next year than occurred in the past year. “There’s lots on the table that’s falling into place,” says Mitch Glaeser, the incoming chairman of the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce. More at the Gainesville Business Report.

Supply and Demand Trends
Pinched

stone crab Despite rocketing prices for stone-crab claws, many Florida Keys commercial fishermen have nearly given up on the season only 2 months old. "We may see record prices but also record pain," said Gary Graves, general manager of Keys Fisheries in Marathon. "Prices don't mean anything if you can't catch anything." Harvests since shortly after the season opening Oct. 15 have been "as bad as I can remember during my 45 years in the business," Graves said. "It's just bleak."

» Full story from the Miami Herald