Martin County

Sales of newly constructed homes were better than expected in April, increasing nearly 15 percent nationally over a robust March, and leaving a dearth of inventory not seen since 1968.

In the south, a region that includes Florida and 16 other states, new home sales increased nearly 11 percent over March and 38 percent compared to April 2009, according to a monthly Commerce department report released Wednesday.

Nationally, the seasonally adjusted annual sales pace hit 504,000 in April. In the South, it was 278,000.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — It’s a small bounce, but Florida’s population should rebound this year from its first loss in more than half a century in a hopeful sign for the struggling state economy, new estimates from the University of Florida show.

The Sunshine State is expected to add about 23,000 residents between April 1, 2009, and April 1, 2010, following a loss of almost 57,000 residents the previous year, according to population projections released today by UF’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research.

The following represent city-, county-, and regional-level news stories around the state relating to the BEBR Population Program's recent release of the April 1, 2009 preliminary population estimates.

Brevard's population dipped last year - Florida Today - August 24, 2009
UF: Polk Is Losing People - The Ledger - August 22, 2009