Wednesday's Daily Pulse
Economic concerns push down Florida's consumer confidence
A gloomy assessment of the nation's economy drove down consumer confidence among Floridians in May, according to a new University of Florida survey. The two-point drop put the state index at 78, a level reflecting a relatively low degree of optimism. More at the Tampa Bay Times and UF News.
Median CEO Pay Tops $10 Million For The First Time
Are you getting rich off the rising stock market? America's CEOs are. Median compensation for the chief executive of a Standard & Poor's 500 company was $10.8 million last year, according to a study by The Associated Press. Read more from NPR and the AP.
Medicaid surge triggers cost concerns for states
From California to Rhode Island, states are confronting new concerns that their Medicaid costs will rise as a result of the federal health care law. That's likely to revive the debate about how federal decisions can saddle states with unanticipated expenses. [Source: AP]
Migrant smuggling on high seas bring new players into an old game
Over the last two years, an increasing number of boats have been interdicted or spotted in waters between the Bahamas and South Florida bringing undocumented immigrants of various nationalities, including Brazilians, Dominicans, Ecuadorans, Haitians and Jamaicans. [Source: Miami Herald]
With the average compensation for hormone drug treatment and egg retrieval surgery at about $5,000 in Florida, the allure of this relatively new medical procedure is attracting more and more young women, despite the many unknowns. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› As Darden workforce shrinks, fate of tax breaks in question [Orlando Sentinel]
Darden Restaurants' shrinking corporate workforce could mean the Orlando company will have to give up millions of dollars in tax breaks. Darden has already forfeited $2.3 million in incentive money, saying it probably won't create 500 new jobs at its Orlando headquarters by 2015.
› St. Petersburg trying to lure unnamed global firm with tax incentives [Tampa Bay Times]
A worldwide "business process outsourcing and product support" company is considering moving its international headquarters to the city, making it eligible for almost $1.4 million in state and local incentives.
› South Florida ranked worst for volunteer rate [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Volunteer in South Florida? Not a priority. The tri-county area ranks last among 51 major metro areas for its volunteer rate, a new study shows. Among the reasons: Its transient community and long commutes.
› With debt behind it, SRQ looks to future [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
After a quarter-century of making sizeable payments, the government agency that runs Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport is about to burn the mortgage.
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› South Florida home prices up 16.2 in March from year ago [Miami Herald]
Home prices in South Florida rose 16.2 percent in March from a year earlier, according to S&P/Case-Shiller. Nationally, home price rose 10.3 percent in March from a year earlier, according to the closely monitored report.
› Chasing the Latin American retail consumer [CNBC]
The rewards of operating in the emerging Latin American retail market are great. There is lots of room to grow as the ranks of the middle class increase. Yet the risks are also enormous.
› The Energy Bonanza Is A Small Business Triumph [Forbes]
There are more than 20,000 small and mid-size companies participating in the energy boom, with an average of 15 employees. These firms account for almost all of our energy boom.
› GrowFL helped generate $587M to Florida's economy, nearly $20M in tax revenue [Orlando Business Journal]
A new economic impact study credits the GrowFL Economic Gardening program with helping second-stage companies create nearly 13,500 additional jobs over the past five years.