Quit rate among Florida employees rises slightly, drops nationally

The quit rate in Florida — the number of people who left a job during a given month as a percentage of the number of people employed — is rising, albeit slightly, according to a new report. Even so, Florida is essentially in the middle of other states in the country with a quit rate of 2.7%. [Source: Business Observer]

Hemp businesses concerned as new bill moves through legislature

Florida’s multi-billion dollar hemp industry at risk of going up in smoke is a new state bill becomes a law. The bill would set THC limits in hemp products to not exceed two milligrams per serving and ten milligrams per container. It also modifies the definition of hemp products, saying they can’t be “attractive to children” by including promotional characters, animations or flavors that attract kids. “It basically handcuffs the business and changes the way that we’re currently operating,” said Vita Labs CEO JJ Combs.[Source: WFTV]

Florida ranks third on list of states where consumers are adding the most debt

Debt is a familiar topic for many Americans -- with about $1.1 trillion in credit card debt and more than $1.6 trillion in auto loan debt. But, Floridians in particular apparently have their own reputation -- taking the No. 3 spot on a WalletHub ranking of states where consumers are adding the most debt. The Sunshine State had a 7% increase in credit card debt, 0.2% for auto loans and 1.6% for personal loans from Q3 2023 to Q4 2023. [Source: NBC Miami]

Florida gas prices fall 11 days straight; why AAA thinks that’s about to change

The price of gas dropped 9 cents last week in Florida, according to AAA. But it’s looking like it’s time for another climb in the Sunshine State. “Florida gas prices have recently followed a cycle where they decline for about two weeks, then shoot back up again,” AAA’s Mark Jenkins said. More from the News Service of Florida and WFTV.

Gambling addiction hotline struggles to meet demand after sports betting apps become legal in Florida

Sports betting apps make it easier for consumers to place their bets, but now the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling said it's struggling to meet demand. The nonprofit contracted to run Florida's addictive gambling prevention program, said it has saw a 138% increase in demand over one month from December to January. More from NBC Miami and WPTV.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Tampa Bay salaries lag national average by 15.6% [Business Observer]
Tampa Bay leads the nation in attracting new residents of all ages compared to 19 U.S. metro areas of similar size — a list that includes South Florida, Orlando, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Atlanta and Nashville. That's one of the key takeaways from two reports released Monday by the University of South Florida Muma College of Business and the Tampa Bay Partnership.

› Northrop Grumman to expand campus at Melbourne airport; details still secret [Florida Today]
Northrop Grumman officials are planning an expansion at the company's campus at Melbourne Orlando International Airport, where more than 5,000 employees work on an array of high-tech programs — including the U.S. Air Force's B-21 Raider long-range nuclear stealth bomber.

› Kolter Solutions, among Central Florida's largest private companies, acquired by Tandym Group [Orlando Business Journal]
One of the region's largest private companies was acquired by a New York-based firm. Maitland-based technology staffing company Kolter Solutions announced Feb. 12 it will merge with Tandym Group for an undisclosed amount. Tandym said the move would bolster its presence in Florida, where it also has an office in Boca Raton.

› Global retailer Primark picks Jacksonville as launchpad for southern expansion [Florida Times-Union]
One of the global companies that a Jacksonville trade delegation met with in London in the week before the Jaguars overseas football game has opened a distribution center on the Northside as it prepares to add dozens of stores in the United States. Primark is a well-known fashion retailer in the United Kingdom and is embarking on expansion in southern states from Florida to Texas.

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› Florida Peanut Federation hosts Lego building competition to teach nutritional benefits of peanuts [WCJB]
Members of the Florida Peanut Federation are teaching residents about the benefits of peanuts in a unique way. They are hosting a Lego-building competition where people can learn about the importance of peanuts. Executive Director Laura Goss said Florida is the third leading producing state for peanuts with 200 thousand acres throughout the state.

› Jacksonville entrepreneurs opened record number of businesses in 2023 [Jacksonville Business Journal]
Jacksonville's level of new business creation surpassed strong national figures in 2023, although it didn't jump quite as much as the state overall. Jacksonville saw 5,973 new businesses created in 2023, an increase of 25% compared to 2022 and 74% compared to 2019’s pre-pandemic levels, according to data collated by Yelp.

› SeaWorld plans 60th anniversary celebrations, parade [Orlando Sentinel]
SeaWorld will begin celebrating its 60th anniversary next month with festivities that will include new shows, rides and parades. The campaign will have a “So Much More to Sea” theme. The events will kick off March 21, the date SeaWorld opened in San Diego in 1964. (SeaWorld Orlando debuted in 1973, two years after the arrival of Walt Disney World and Magic Kingdom.) The kick-off party will extend through March 24, and there will be additional special events and experiences coming this summer, the company said.

› Census data reveals which ZIP codes have the highest incomes in Central Florida [WFTV]
The wealthiest people in metro Orlando live in Oviedo/Chuluota and the Baldwin Park area, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The U.S. Census Bureau releases median household income estimates by ZIP code every year, with the most recent data representing 2022.