Florida Trend | Florida's Business Authority

Thursday's Daily Pulse

Floridians more optimistic on finances and economy

Consumer confidence bounced back in Florida last month with growing optimism over future economic conditions. The University of Florida’s Consumer Sentiment Index released Wednesday gained 3.2 points to 99.3 in November after declining in October. All of the five components that make up the index increased in the report, showing stronger confidence among Floridians for the economy in 2020 and beyond. But the opinions of Florida consumers varied by gender and age. [Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune]

Florida has some of the highest credit card debt in U.S.

Floridians are the owners of some of the largest credit card debt in the country, a new report says. A new report from CreditCards.com said Florida holds the seventh-highest credit card burden in the entire country. While New Mexicans have the highest amount of debt, the average Florida household has the twelfth-highest credit card debt of $8,620. Floridians also have the fourteenth-lowest median annual household income at $55,462. [Source: WFLA]

Grocers capitalize on the new meat revolution

The popularity of animal-based protein and protein-heavy diets such as keto and Paleo are prompting many grocers, including Lakeland-based Publix Super Markets, to up their value-added meat game. Accordingly, value-added meats have emerged as a strong growth area for grocers in recent years. [Source: Progressive Grocer]

Underemployment explained: Almost half of American workers have 'low-wage' jobs

Almost half of American workers are working in “low-wage” jobs, according to new research by the Brookings Institute. The report, published in November, shows 44% of U.S. workers are employed in low-wage jobs that pay median annual wages of $18,000. Florida appears to be one of the hot spots, with some of the heaviest concentrations of metropolitan areas with high percentages of low-wage workers. [Source: WTSP]

Art Basel artistry also comes in moving the artwork

Art Basel has pumped billions into the local economy, and has helped create a new niche: firms that have quickly become experts in moving delicate – and shockingly expensive – art works. “The transfer of art is definitely a niche market,” said Wayne “Chip” Withers, president of Withers Transportation Systems. Art collectors and galleries generally employ art handlers who take responsibility for the works, he said. [Source: Miami Herald]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Miami Super Bowl may be most expensive yet for hotel guests, analysts say
Miami’s upcoming Super Bowl may be the most expensive for visitors yet. The average daily hotel room rate in the Miami market could reach above $500 for the weekend January 31-February 2, 2020, according to an analysis by STR, a hospitality data company. If that happens, Miami’s 2020 Super Bowl will be the most expensive big game in recent history for hotel guests.

› Spring training home for Marlins and Cardinals may get big makeover
Spring training baseball has been a very good deal for Palm Beach County over the years, but not so good that commissioners will rubber-stamp a $111 million makeover for Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. The problem: When the money is allocated to fix up the joint spring home of the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals, there won’t be much cash left to develop other county tourist attractions.

› Studio Podcasts Suites opens in Jacksonville
Trending with the times, a Jacksonville business has opened a podcasting studio for rent. “With the explosive growth in podcasting locally and nationally, now is the best time to open our professional podcast studio concept in Jacksonville”, said Gary Spurgeon, owner of Studio Podcast Suites.

› SpaceX scrubs Wednesday launch to the space station. Next chance comes Thursday.
SpaceX’s next resupply mission to the International Space Station will have to wait for at least one more day. The company scrubbed its launch Wednesday because of high winds in the upper atmosphere and at sea. The spacecraft, which will include 5,700 pounds of supplies and more than 250 science experiments, will take off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s launch complex 40,

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› He says private construction hurt his business. Now he wants Fort Lauderdale to pay up.
It’s a nice deal if you can get it: Persuade Fort Lauderdale to forgive more than $45,000 in dock rent to make up for all the private construction along the north bank of the New River that’s killing your business. James Campbell, president and owner of Riverfront Cruises and Anticipation Yacht Charters, wants the city to reimburse him for dock rent from May through Oct. 10.

› Plans unveiled for estimated $30 million revitalization project at Marker 32 site
Plans are underway for an estimated $30 million-plus revitalization project featuring upscale waterfront homes, retail shops, marina and a new Marker 32 fine dining restaurant on Beach Boulevard at the Intracoastal Waterway in Jacksonville. Marker 32 has been a favorite of Jacksonville area residents as well as visitors since 1992.

› Royal Caribbean sending new Quantum Ultra ship Odyssey of the Seas to Florida
Florida finally gets to be home to one of Royal Caribbean’s Quantum-class ships. In fact, it will be getting the newest one when Odyssey of the Seas heads to Fort Lauderdale. A sister ship to Spectrum of the Seas, which debuted this summer, these two ships are the next generation to the three Quantum-class ships already sailing: Quantum of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas.

› Suit aims to wrest control of historic Olympia Theater from Miami
With the historic Olympia Theater in the heart of downtown seemingly in limbo, the City of Miami is facing a lawsuit over its handling of the property. Last month, The Maurice Gusman Cultural Center for the Performing Arts Inc., a dissolved Florida not-for-profit corporation, sued the City of Miami for its ownership of the Olympia Theater at 174 E Flagler St. The theater is managed by the not-for-profit Olympia Center Inc.