TAMPA - For years, Tampa Bay welcomed thousands of new residents who fueled a frenetic real estate climate and one of the fastest-growing job markets in the country.Those days seem long-gone now.

A U.S. Census report released Thursday shows population growth from 2006 to 2007 has slowed considerably for many of Florida's municipalities, including Tampa.It's a trend some economists predict will continue through 2010.

Demographers, economists and city leaders say reasons for the sputtering growth are easy to identify: a national housing slump and record job losses, especially from the construction and housing industry.

But don't rule out the short-term impact of hurricanes, something that can influence an economic forecast, Lafakis said.

According to the U.S. census, New Orleans had the largest rate of population loss since 2000 and turned around as the fastest-growing large city in the nation after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Florida certainly has experienced all of the above.

"Clearly, our growth is not as strong," said Scott Cody, a demographer with the Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the University of Florida.

The bureau tracks the state's annual growth beginning in April. So far, Florida is on track for close to 1 percent growth in 2007, Cody said. While that's a big change from the boom years, it's important to note the state is still growing, he said.

"When you compare Florida's growth to other states', even at our lowest it's still high," he said. "We're just used to being one of the fastest growing."

Rush To Florida Slows To Trickle - Tampa Tribune - July 11, 2008