Florida Trend Exclusive
2019 Economic Outlook - The Year Ahead

In this year’s Economic Outlook, you’ll find perspectives from key people in various industries, issues important to Florida’s major metro areas and a roundup of business news from around the state. See the full report here.

Is Florida at risk of recession?

There’s good news and bad news for Florida’s economy in 2019: There’s a low risk of recession, but there will be fewer new jobs, a Florida Chamber Foundation economist said Monday. While the likelihood of recession in the state has nearly doubled over a year ago, it is still low over the next nine months, according to Jerry Parrish, chief economist at the foundation. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Florida has third highest rate of human trafficking in the nation

January is designated as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. A recent case of trafficking in Leon County is prompting organizations to bring awareness to the issue. Florida has the third highest rate of trafficking in the United States, but the state has seen a decrease in the number of criminal convictions since 2017. [Source: WFSU]

Florida may seek internet tax collections

Florida law requires residents to report and pay the sales taxes they own on items purchased from mail order catalogs or the internet. Few residents actually do this, but a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision cleared the way for out of state businesses to begin the collections, but the change would require legislative approval. [Source: WJHG]

Student loan debt is growing faster in Florida than any other state, study says

College students in the Sunshine State are racking up debt to pay for school at a higher rate than anywhere else in the country, a recent study found. Student loan debt in Florida ballooned 35 percent to $89.4 billion between the third quarter of 2015 and the same period in 2018, according to estimates from the credit rating agency Experian. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Trend Mention

2019 Celebration of Reading Join the Barbara Bush Foundation for the Florida Celebration of Reading – Miami on February 7, 2019, aboard SeaFair. Featuring appearances from bestselling authors Dave Barry, Brad Meltzer, and Susan Page, the event will honor the legacy of Barbara Bush and kick off a year-long celebration of the Foundation’s 30th anniversary. Funds raised will support the Foundation’s literacy initiatives nationwide, which include 80 programs throughout the state of Florida. See More Here. [Sponsored]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› SpaceX employees in Florida told to return badges at Air Force Station after layoff news [Florida Today]
SpaceX employees in Florida have already begun packing their bags after the company announced Friday they would be cutting 10 percent of its total workforce. Security forces at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station entrance were provided Monday with a list of names of individuals who were no longer part of the company.

› Sarasota-Bradenton airport traffic rose 39% in December [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
Passenger traffic increased by 16 percent in 2018 compared with 2017 at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, with the year ending with a 39 percent increase in December compared with December 2017, president and CEO Rick Piccolo said Monday.

› Lawmaker wants to eliminate the Constitutional Revision Commission [Tampa Bay Times]
A Republican lawmaker wants to eliminate the Florida Constitution Revision Commission, a powerful panel that meets every 20 years and can place proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot.

› South Florida air traffic controllers, TSA screeners, pilots raise shutdown concerns [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration officers in South Florida said Monday they’re experiencing more-than-usual stress now that they’re not getting paid, but the traveling public is safe — for now.

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› Birding festival to take flight in Central Florida [Orlando Sentinel]
Bird enthusiasts will flock to Central Florida Jan. 17-21 for the North Shore Birding Festival. According to Orange Audubon’s President and Festival Committee Chair Deborah Green, the event brings together birding trip leaders with those wanting to learn more in a bird hotspot.

› Florida's agriculture commissioner Nikki Fried to hire cannabis director and tweak gun permit process [Naples Daily News]
One of the first things Florida’s top Democrat, Nikki Fried, will do now that she is agriculture commissioner will be to hire a cannabis director to oversee the burgeoning industries of agricultural hemp and medical marijuana edibles in the state.

› St. Pete Pier's official budget is $80 million, but other pots providing millions more [Tampa Bay Times]
The year was 2010, when the City Council voted to demolish St. Petersburg’s old inverted pyramid Pier that was costing taxpayers about $1.4 million in annual subsidies. Nine years later, the “world class” Pier of current Mayor Rick Kriseman’s dreams is under construction, rising in a downtown strumming with a youthful vibe.

› Florida gas prices back on the rise, AAA says [WKMG]
Gas prices are back on the rise after a brief plunge kicked off the new year, according to AAA. The price of gas in Florida finally leveled out last week after it dropped 70 cents in 91 days, according to a report.