Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Monday's Daily Pulse

What's making US economy a world beater?

How does the U.S. economy do it? Europe is floundering. China faces slower growth. Japan is struggling to sustain tentative gains. Yet the U.S. job market is not only humming, the pace of economic growth is expected to grow at a healthy 3 percent this year. In this story from the Associated Press, they offer five reasons the United States is outpacing other major economies, including an aggressive central bank, flexible economy and roaring stock market.


Ezra Katz
Ezra Katz

Florida Trend Exclusive
Financing the real estate boom

Ezra Katz has seen it all during his 43 years in the real estate business in south Florida, during which time he’s inked real estate finance transactions totaling more than $10 billion. His companies are providing financing and direct investment for some of the highest-profile projects in Florida. Access story here (part of a news roundup for Miami-Dade).


Controversy spreads over Everglades oil drilling

Alarmed by the spread of oil drilling in the Everglades, environmental activists and some lawmakers are pressing for stricter regulation of the energy industry and a state ban on new fracking-like techniques that blast open oil deposits near Florida's aquifers. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]


Why interest rates may stay very low for a lot longer

Since the financial crash of 2008, one of the biggest guessing games in the U.S. economy and markets has centered on interest rates — and when they would finally rise from the historic lows that followed the Great Recession. But year after year, analysts who predicted a sustained rebound in rates have been foiled. [Source: LA Times]


Small business owners learn recession lessons

Many owners whose businesses failed during the recession have taken the plunge again, restarting or opening new businesses. But they're not repeating past mistakes. Their companies are leaner, smarter and less risky. [Source: AP]


ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› NextEra Energy focusing on wind, sun projects outside Florida
The parent company of Florida Power & Light has just spun off a new company for big sun- and wind-energy projects, but don't expect any of those ventures in South Florida soon.

› Winter Park merchants see business bounce from SunRail
SunRail has exceeded ridership estimates in its early months of operation, and it's exceeding expectations in another way, too. The commuter train is being credited with boosting the bottom line for businesses near the Winter Park station.

› Winning over Tampa Bay market won't be easy for Winn-Dixie
When Winn-Dixie took over Sweetbay supermarkets in April, it swapped the signs and shopping carts but basically left the stores the same. Long term, Winn-Dixie hoped to narrow gaps between stores and gain market share in an area dominated by Publix and, to a lesser but growing degree, Walmart.

› Medical marijuana initiative popular with Florida seniors
A Quinnipiac University poll charted support in those older than 65 at a whopping 84 percent and 88 percent among all voters. While support of recreational usage drops dramatically in that older age group, in that same poll, among voters 50 to 64 years old, 62 percent admitted smoking pot, more than any other demographic.


Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› Theme parks get creative to help visitors beat heat
Theme parks can't control temperatures that regularly reach into the 90s and sometimes the triple digits, but they have developed ways to keep guests comfortable beyond the water rides that give guests a good soaking.

› Column: Corporations have hijacked education in Florida
When it comes to the important stuff — the promotion of students, the job evaluations of educators, the funding of schools — we place all of our trust somewhere other than teachers and administrators. Namely, in corporations.

350 Bigges Florida Companies

It's here! Our annual list of Florida's 350 Biggest Companies. Preview the state's top 125 private and 225 public companies ranked by revenue or purchase the full lists — featuring hundreds of additional contacts, phone, fax, website, full company address, and other information not previously published.

 

› One year in, Carnival CEO Arnold Donald is working to right the ship
A year after stepping into the top job at Carnival Corp., Arnold Donald still doesn’t know what he was thinking when he heard the offer.

› Amateur explorers find historic fort in Everglades
Fort Harrell was one of the more obscure outposts, wedged into a rugged swamp area, accessible mainly by boat. No great battles were waged there and no famous generals used it. Yet three amateur explorers, led by a high school chemistry teacher, believe they have found its exact site and consider it an important historic find.