Florida consumer sentiment weakens in April for the second month in a row in 2026
Consumer sentiment among Floridians declined for the second consecutive month, falling 3.5 points in April, to 74.6, from a revised figure of 78.1 in March. Similarly, national sentiment declined 3.5 points over the month. “The decline in sentiment is not unexpected, as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has triggered a global energy shock. This has led to a sharp rise in gasoline prices and renewed inflationary pressures, with monthly inflation posting its largest acceleration since 2022,” said Hector H. Sandoval, director of the Economic Analysis Program at University of Florida’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research. More from UF News and Florida Politics.
Florida Trend Exclusive
Coast to coast
Tampa General Hospital is looking to Florida's East Coast, where it's launching an ambulatory network with Boston-based academic health system Mass General Brigham. The joint venture will begin with a new radiation oncology center opening later this year in Palm Beach Gardens. Tampa General and Mass General Brigham also will expand the Tampa General Physicians Network, which currently spans 20 locations. Both initiatives will tap into the more than 2 million residents across Martin, St. Lucie and Palm Beach counties. [Source: Florida Trend]
The intensity of Florida’s housing market correction is easing across many pockets of the state
While softness—and even outright weakness—remains in parts of Florida’s housing market, the intensity of the downturn in Florida has eased somewhat in recent months. Some Florida metros—in particular in the Florida Panhandle and parts of Northern Florida—are even back to seeing mildly positive seasonally adjusted month-over-month home price gains. [Source: ResiClub Analytics]
Florida Speaker kills AI regulation, vaccine repeal bills on first day of special session
Bucking Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida lawmakers won’t strike vaccine mandates for kids or create new guardrails on artificial intelligence, House Speaker Daniel Perez declared Tuesday morning. The only topic the Florida House will address during the four-day special session is redrawing the state’s congressional maps. “There were no bills filed on these policies prior to the start of this special session [in the House],” Perez told his members minutes after opening House proceedings. “Consequently, we will not be taking up those issues.” [Source: Florida Phoenix]
See also:
» Despite lawmaker skepticism, DeSantis’ redistricting map moves ahead
Florida’s tribes today: preservation and perseverance
Through war and upheaval, Florida’s Indigenous tribes endured. Today, that legacy lives on through the Seminole Tribe of Florida, the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, and the Independents, whose ancestors survived colonial strife and found refuge in the wetlands of the Everglades and South Florida. The Independents are those people who chose not to join one of Florida’s two federally recognized tribes. [Source: Florida Weekly]
ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:
› Leu Gardens plan ditches amphitheater, downsizes restaurant, still has neighbors grumbling
A plan to modernize Orlando’s famed Leu Gardens met a tough reception Monday evening, even as its executive director said some of the more controversial features had been scaled back. More than 200 people gathered at the gardens to hear the latest update on the conceptual plan, which has been met with skepticism and opposition from neighbors and businesses after previous meetings. One of the biggest concerns, voiced by City Commissioner Roger Chapin and nearby restaurant owners, was that a city-subsidized full-service eatery at the gardens would increase traffic problems and have an unfair competitive advantage over other area establishments.
› Jacksonville industrial market stabilizes as speculative warehouse construction plummets 81%
After developers turned vacant lots into budding warehouse corridors, industrial market reports for the first quarter of 2026 state that Jacksonville is beginning to stabalize – even as many speculative builds lie empty. In 2025 alone, builders delivered 4.03 million square feet of inventory to the industrial market. Within the first quarter of this year, active construction took a nose dive to 764,301 square feet, according to a Colliers industrial report.
› Tampa Bay Bucs exec named new CEO of United Way Suncoast
After a four-month national search, United Way Suncoast has found its new CEO: former Tampa Bay Buccaneers executive Kourtney Sanchez. Sanchez, 36, will take on the lead role at one of the largest United Ways in Florida effective June 1, the Tampa-based organization announced Tuesday. She succeeds former CEO Jessica Muroff, who led the organization for more than six years before stepping away in January to become president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.
› FIFA sets stunning parking prices at Hard Rock Stadium for World Cup
Bayside Marketplace in downtown Miami raised parking prices to $100 during the Heat-Denver Nuggets 2023 NBA Finals. But that’s a bargain compared with the parking prices set by FIFA, soccer’s governing body, for World Cup matches at Hard Rock Stadium, which will be called “Miami Stadium” for all World Cup games. Not only do prices for a single parking spot run as high as $249.99, but FIFA has jacked up the prices by $100 or more since the fall.
More stories ...
› Punta Gorda details projects for 1% sales tax vote
Punta Gorda City Council identified projects that would be funded through an extension of the Local Option 1% Sales Tax, pending voter approval in a Nov. 3 referendum. The city would receive 10% of the revenue, with the remainder going to Charlotte County. City Manager Melissa Reichert said funding is allocated across three categories: $53.288 million for public infrastructure and utilities, $16.955 million for public safety and about $15 million for quality-of-life projects.
› Sarasota County residents fight huge apartment project on golf course
Dozens of residents gathered inside a quiet, gated subdivision off Tatum Road this month, many dressed in yellow golf shirts, to protest a plan they fear could transform their rural corner of east Sarasota County. They came in waves — retirees in polos, young families in T-shirts and jeans — united by frustration over a proposal to replace the Tatum Ridge Golf Links with a sprawling apartment complex that could bring thousands of new renters into a low-density area where cows and horses still graze along narrow country roads.
› If you’re looking for work, 100 South Florida employers are looking for workers
If you’re looking for a job in South Florida, Thursday’s job fair at Sunrise’s Amerant Bank Arena could be your ticket to work. More than 100 employers will be at the mega job fair. Recruiters will be looking for workers in healthcare, customer service, sales, construction and IT. Companies expected to be there include the Florida Panthers, Amerant Bank Arena, Jiffy Lube Honey Baked Ham and Sherwin-Williams.
› Duval Hall ready for the spotlight at new Jacksonville Fairgrounds
A new Jacksonville Fairgrounds is rising among the pines off Normandy Boulevard, and its centerpiece Duval Hall is already up and running. Duval Hall is a huge multipurpose venue that has already played host to concerts and a plant show. A few hundred rock fans were there last week for one of the first ticketed concerts, with Jacksonville band Allele. By the time the Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair rolls around in November, a new amphitheater that can hold 10,000 fans will also be ready.