Wednesday's Daily Pulse
Homes sales improve but stress remains
Sales of existing homes improved for the third consecutive month in June, the National Association of Realtors reported Tuesday in one of several new data points that suggest a steadily better economy. More from McClatchy and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and see the full report from Florida Realtors.
» Florida Home Sales in June Spike 14.6% Over Last Year
» Florida real estate data shows 'normalized' market
Orange juice retail sales fall to new low
U.S. orange-juice retail sales fell to the lowest level on record as consumers continue to turn away from the breakfast beverage. U.S. consumers bought 36.11 million gallons of orange juice in the four weeks ended July 5, down 8.3 percent from a similar period a year ago. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]
Which state is better for business: New York or Florida?
Florida’s Chief Financial Officer is sparring with the Governor of New York over which place is best for businesses. Florida CFO Jeff Atwater has some supportive jobs numbers to back him up. Florida led the country in job creation last month. [Source: WJXT]
Small Business FAQ
Do you have what it takes to start and grow a business? Before launching your small business, take some time to review these important topics and frequently asked questions.
Part of Florida Small Business
How Much Will You Need to Retire?
The classic idea of retirement is a life of uninterrupted leisure is evolving. With people living longer, they’re more active in the early years of retirement, and many choose to focus this energy on a retirement lifestyle that’s much different than the stereotype. [Source: ABC News]
Back-to-school sales tax holiday to save Floridians $40 million
The back-to-school sales tax holiday on Aug. 1-3 is expected to save Floridians at least $40 million, the Florida Retail Federation said Tuesday. Overall, Florida's back-to-school spending is projected to reach about $5 billion this year, up about 5 percent from last year. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› FreshFutures enrichment program preps Jacksonville teens for 'real world' [Florida Times-Union]
The FreshFutures program was developed by Jacksonville-based nonprofit FreshMinistries and gives students 14 to 18 enrichment and training they might not get in high school.
› Florida sues for $20M from failed Digital Domain [AP]
The state of Florida has filed a lawsuit seeking to recoup millions of taxpayer dollars provided to the failed Digital Domain film visual effects company.
› Orlando home-price growth outpaces Florida's [Orlando Sentinel]
Metro Orlando's housing market is not experiencing the big year-over-year price gains it saw in 2013, but increases in the four-county region continue to outpace the state's, a new report shows.
› AutoNation announces plans for car-buying app [South Florida Business Journal]
AutoNation announced plans to invest $100 million to build a car-buying app that would give users a purchasing experience similar to Amazon.com.
Go to page 2 for more stories ...
› Q&A with EarlyShares CEO on the future of crowdfunding [Miami Herald]
Joanna Schwartz talks about the progress of Miami-based EarlyShares, an equity crowdfunding platform that connects investors and opportunities, her vision and crowdfunding.
› Chinese drywall company held in contempt of court [First Coast News]
A federal judge has delivered another legal blow to a Chinese drywall company that has defied any attempt by the U.S. justice system to make it accountable for harm believed done to homes and health by its product.
› Big investors want direct talks with boards at Tech Data, Jabil [Tampa Bay Business Journal]
Investors in the biggest companies in Tampa Bay - and in the United States - want more direct conversations with members of the boards of directors at those firms.
› Venture capitalists flow $22.8 million into South Florida companies [South Florida Business Journal]
South Florida was not a major target for venture capitalists in the second quarter, with only about 20 percent of the state's investments flowing to the area.
These annual awards are presented in several categories including:
Leadership, Large and Small Business, Non-Profit, Government, Green Building and Business Partnership. The nomination deadline is August 1.
Get the recognition you deserve:
Find out how to enter HERE.
(Sponsored Content)