Florida's population — already among the oldest in the country — is getting even older, but the rest of the nation is not too far behind.
New census data shows Florida's median population was 40.7 in 2010, two years older than in 2000. The increase reflects both the state's continuing allure for retirees, and the aging of the nation's largest generation: the baby boomers.
Most of Florida's largest counties and cities grew more rapidly than the nation since 2000, according to 2010 Census data released Thursday.
"It's a story of two different half-decades," says Stanley Smith, director of the Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the University of Florida. "The first half was so great that it made up for any decline of the past few years."
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida’s consumer confidence dipped only slightly in November to 72 after a large jump in October, portending good news for holiday retailers as higher levels of optimism remained in effect, according to a new University of Florida survey.
Unemployment is down in Pinellas County, according to the latest numbers from the Agency for Workforce Innovation, The county’s not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate in October was 11.5 percent, down from 12 percent in September. AWI’s October report showed that 51,386 people were unemployed compared to 53,957 the month before. The state’s not-seasonally-adjusted rate for October was 11.6 percent. The national rate was 9.0 percent.
Rising poverty cast its shadow across the Tampa Bay region in 2009, fueled by the ongoing economic downturn.
The latest government estimates, released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau, show the number of people living in poverty has been growing steadily since 2006 in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Polk counties.
Children have been hit the hardest in the Bay area, where about one in five people younger than 18 live in poverty, according to census estimates.
Sitting outside his lakefront mobile home, Lake County snowbird Dick Risch relishes the peacefulness around him.
Until recently, Risch's winter community was packed with seasonal residents. But while most part-time residents already have left, unusually chilly temperatures up North kept some snowbirds like Risch, 68, from joining the flock just yet.
For businesses that thrive on the spending of seasonal residents, these snowbird stragglers seeking to stay warm a bit longer are a welcome economic bonus.
WASHINGTON — From as far back as Barry Goldwater in 1964, political candidates have risked backlash in Florida for suggesting changes to Social Security. So it was remarkable to see Marco Rubio in a national TV debate with Gov. Charlie Crist call for raising the retirement age.
Blogs and Facebook groups instantly lit up. The consensus was Rubio committed a serious gaffe. Older Americans are among the most reliable voters, and in Florida, 2.4 million of them receive Social Security.
Economist David Denslow Jr. predicted Friday that Florida's economy will continue its gradual recovery, carried by rising numbers of individuals reaching retirement and the lure of the state as a place to live.
While a depressed job market has forced families to leave the state in search of work and Florida has a persistent oversupply of housing, the longer-term view is better, he told members of the Economic Club of Florida meeting at the Civic Center.
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.
