Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Friday's Daily Pulse

Home sales index at two-year high

The nation seems to have finally caught what parts of Florida have been enjoying for the last few months: people getting off the fence and signing home sales contracts. An index that tracks the number of so-called "pending sales" rose to its highest level in nearly two years last month, the latest sign the battered housing market is slowly improving. Pending South Florida home sales increased 13 percent in March Read more from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and the Miami Herald.

See also:
» Stunned Home Buyers Find the Bidding Wars Are Back


More bad news for out-of-work Floridians

The state’s 836,000 unemployed workers are in for more bad news: Their unemployment benefits are going to start running out sooner. State officials said this week that 20 weeks of federal extended unemployment benefits are to start disappearing next month. That’s on top of three weeks of state unemployment benefits that evaporated in January for newly unemployed workers. [Source: Times/Herald]


Sunshine is golden: Florida's population rebound

One of the leading demographic stories of the past decade was Florida’s population slump. But a surprising story of the new decade is Florida’s population rebound. Of all the “bubble states”—those slammed hardest by the housing market’s collapse—only the Sunshine State has shown robust signs of recovery in domestic migration. [Source: City Journal]


Rise of the barter economy

When financial planner Shannon Simmons offered her expertise to a professional clown, it wasn’t exactly business as usual. Simmons advised her new client to switch from a “couch fund” to a high-interest-bearing account with limited market risk. In exchange for her advice, Simmons received trapeze lessons. Bartering may sound like a style of commerce more fitting to a backwater marketplace than a modern capitalist environment but the barter market is booming. [Source: Businessweek]

Related:
» Florida Barter


Citizens holds off on plan for higher rates for new customers

Florida’s mammoth state-run insurance company decided Thursday to review its plan to allow unlimited rates for new homeowners following a loud public outcry. The board of governors decided to ask the staff of Citizens Property Insurance to study the issue further before bringing it up for a vote. Read more from the Miami Herald and the Tampa Bay Times.


ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› COLUMN: Making the case for a backyard citrus revival
Oranges, grapefruits and lemons used to be a big part of the retirement ritual in Florida. People would move from Up North, buy a lot, build a house and plant a few citrus trees in the backyard. You don't see that so much anymore.

› Ponies, players return to Miami Beach for polo
After its first appearance in Chicago, and on the way to a debut in China next year, beach polo returns to Miami Beach this weekend.

› Fort Lauderdale franchise waives fee for veterans
A Fort Lauderdale franchise company, VR Business Sales, is waiving $2 million in franchise fees for military service members returning from active duty. VR chief executive Peter King said he wants to help veterans own a business, many of which don't have the money or credit to do.

› That's the (Florida) spirit
Forget Kentucky and Ireland. Dick and Marti Waters make barrel-aged whiskey in Umatilla


Go to page 2 for more stories ...

› University of Florida drops plan to restructure computer engineering department
The University of Florida is scrapping a plan to trim and restructure its computer science and engineering department, according to the Gainesville Sun. School president Bernie Machen cited “overwhelming negative response.”

› SeaWorld goes high-tech with TurtleTrek
SeaWorld Orlando debuts today a movie format not seen anywhere else in the world, part of a high-tech boomlet at the marine-oriented theme park. The new TurtleTrek attraction includes a 3-D, computer-generated film projected on the inside of a dome, giving visitors a 360-degree view of a virtual undersea environment.

› South Florida Science Museum ready to make its world of science wider
The South Florida Science Museum broke ground this month on a $3 million expansion and remodeling project that will add 6,000 square feet to the museum and renovate its main exhibits. The museum holds the distinction of being the second-busiest science center in the country, based on its size and the 150,000 people who visit annually.

› Can cash-strapped cities afford the 2012 election?
With cities and counties across the United States in dire financial straits, many local officials are struggling to come up with the millions of dollars they will need to hold the November 6 elections. That is likely to mean fewer election workers and long lines for voters, which could reduce turnout.