Florida consumer sentiment sinks in June while the national sentiment improves
Consumer confidence is continuing to crumble in Florida, according to a University of Florida survey. Consumer sentiment fell in the Sunshine State for the fourth month in a row in June. The consumer sentiment index fell 1.8 points from May, dropping from 72.9 to 71.1 in June. Consumers are also less optimistic when comparing their current finances to a year ago. More from UF News and Florida Politics.
Florida hurricane threat drops as season starts at five-year low
Florida’s chances of being walloped by a major hurricane this season have dropped below even the minimal expectations forecast earlier this year as June ends as the slowest month for tropical activity since 2019. Tropical Storm Arthur is the only named storm to spin up since the official June 1 start date of hurricane season. It lived for about 12 hours. More from Florida Today.
South Florida doctors are offering patients a new way to pay. But there’s a catch
In recent years, medical credit cards have made their way into the South Florida offices of dentists, ophthalmologists and other doctors as one way people can finance their care. These are not the typical credit cards you use to buy groceries or your next plane ticket — they’re specifically meant for medical care at participating providers. But consumer advocate Patricia Kelmar is sounding the alarm over how the cards actually work. More from the Miami Herald.
Defense contractor Orion Edge commits $6M to Tampa headquarters expansion
Defense technology company Orion Edge is expanding its Tampa headquarters less than a year after relocating from Denver, leasing additional space in the Westshore District and committing $6 million to support its next phase of growth. The company signed a lease for 8,008 square feet at 5555 W. Waters Ave. and plans to create 25 engineering and manufacturing jobs with an average annual salary of $120,000 over the next three years. Orion Edge expects to occupy the office in early August. More from Tampa Bay Business & Wealth.
Federal audit flags spending at Indian River Lagoon National Estuary program
Almost $300,000 in federal funds spent by the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program was "not allowable," a new federal audit report says. But IRLNEP program officials say the money was all used for approved projects. The problem, they say, is that they moved forward with septic-to-sewer conversions and other lagoon projects before federal grant money was in hand. More from Florida Today.
Out of the Box
Developing film from decades-old cameras is making a comeback in St. Pete
Film photography is making a comeback. Despite the advent of more precise digital images years ago, film manufacturers like Kodak have started ramping up film production once more due to a resurgence in demand. So why are people infatuated with them again? “You know what you’re getting is real,” said Nicholas Buttrey, co-owner of Lakeland Film Lab, which is set to open a store in St. Petersburg next month.
» More from the Tampa Bay Times.
Florida Trend Exclusive
Pent-up demand
With the escalation in housing prices in Southeast Florida, it was expected that people from Miami to Palm Beach would swarm Newfield, a 4,200-home new development in Palm City in Martin County. Growth-hostile Martin rarely sees new housing available on such a scale. It's also one county closer than St. Lucie, the destination for decades for people priced out of Palm Beach County. Yet, the buyer burst out the gate at Newfield has been locals.
» Read more from Florida Trend.