The conventional wisdom is that booming growth for Florida is as sure as orange blossoms in spring and hurricanes in summer.

But some economists -- armed with fresh anecdotal evidence -- think that, at least in the short term, high insurance rates, high property taxes and heady competition from other retirement states is taking some of the wind out of the Sunshine State's sails.

At a time when the real estate industry is counting on growth to revive the sagging housing market, any slowdown could prove dangerous.

The old axiom says that Florida picks up 1,000 residents each day, but evidence is mounting that this long-lived assumption is no longer valid.

As Florida's economy slows, will state's growth continue? - Sarasota Herald-Tribune