Are we on the brink of another housing bubble?

The topic of bubbles forming in the housing market is something that has been thrown around for quite some time. As home prices soar to new heights — with no sign of decline — housing bubbles appear to be popping up in many markets. The latest national housing market index produced by Florida Atlantic University and Florida International University faculty indicates the housing market in several cities -- including Dallas, Denver and Houston -- is nearing pricing bubble territory. Full story is here. This article from Zillow says bubble conditions are already present in Miami.

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» Is Miami in a housing bubble?

One in five Americans with debt believe they will die that way

21 percent of Americans with debt don't believe they will ever pay it off, up from 18 percent who felt that way last year and 9 percent who did in 2013. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Florida Trend Exclusive
BP funds to diversify the northwest Florida's economy

Triumph Gulf Coast, a non-profit trust fund established by the Legislature, will decide how to spend the first $300-million disbursement of some $1.5 billion in BP oil spill money. One thing is for sure. The trust fund aims to make an impact by fundamentally diversifying the regional economy. Access full story.

Employer costs for employee compensation

Employer costs for employee compensation for civilian workers averaged $33.37 per hour worked in September 2015, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported this week. Wages and salaries averaged $22.88 per hour worked and accounted for 68.6 percent of these costs. [Source: Florida Trend]

Job success not linked to alma maters

Economists have studied graduates of elite and “moderately selective” schools, tracking earnings over time. In both a 1999 and 2011 study, researchers found almost no difference in earnings between the two groups. [Source: Florida Times-Union]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Need for job spurs woman, 89, to get FAU degree [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Many students go back to school once they realize their job prospects are limited, but few are doing it in their 80s. Yet that's the path charted by Elizabeth "Betty" Reilly.

› Florida Supreme Court tries to untangle utility dispute [Miami Herald]
In a case being watched by local governments and utilities, the Florida Supreme Court heard arguments Thursday in a dispute about who should provide electric service in unincorporated areas of Indian River County.

› Poverty rate spikes in Southwest Florida [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
The number of Southwest Florida children and families living in poverty has spiked since the Great Recession, especially among the poorest households, federal census figures released Wednesday show.

› Florida cities top the list of best college towns in the U.S. [Palm Beach Post]
In a new ranking by Wallet Hub, Florida had multiple cities ranked as some of the best college towns in the United States, with Gainesville, home to the University of Florida, leading the way at No. 5.

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› Tsensors Summit showcases Central Florida's high-tech goals [Orlando Sentinel]
Osceola County’s budding high-tech manufacturing group, the UCF-led ICAMR, is exploring a formal relationship with one of Europe’s leading nano-technology organizations, IMEC (Inter-University MicroElectronics Center).

› Florida pharmacists required to complete extra training [American Pharmacists' Association]
A new rule requires pharmacists in Florida to complete 2 additional hours of training about prescription analgesics. The rule, approved by the Florida Board of Pharmacy, takes effect on December 24.

› Miami area ranks No. 6 in nation for small business activity [Miami Herald]
The Miami-Fort Lauderdale metropolitan area ranked number six in the nation for small business activity in a new report released Thursday by the Kauffman Foundation.

› Sea turtle nesting in 2015 is one for the record books [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Mote Marine Laboratory is reporting that 2015 was a record-breaking season for sea turtle nests from Longboat Key to Venice. The Sarasota-based research organization said that there were 2,475 nests in the region.