Housing

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Consumer confidence among Floridians rose three points to 69 in December, reflecting a cautious optimism in the economy, according to a recent University of Florida survey. Though the latest figure is only one point below the level set in December 2010, it also marks the highest rank in the past nine months.

The index used by UF researchers in the survey is benchmarked to 1966, which means a value of 100 represents the same level of confidence for that year. The lowest index possible is a 2; the highest is 150.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida’s consumer confidence index rose this month to 64, up three points from a revised mark of 61 in August, which was only two points higher than the record low of 59 set in June 2008, according to a new University of Florida survey.

“The increase in confidence this month was mostly a rebound from very low levels in August,” said Chris McCarty, director of UF’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research and Survey Research Center, which conducted the survey.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Consumer confidence among Floridians remained at 68 in May, ending three consecutive months of decline, according to a new University of Florida survey.

The numbers do not look good. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, 17 percent of the homes in Florida are vacant - the second-highest vacancy rate in the nation behind Vermont. And in Palm Beach County it's worse - 18 percent of the homes are vacant.

PALM BAY — In a 2004 population projection taking the city through 2024, officials figured Palm Bay's population would be around 118,423 by now.

When Florida voters head to the polls on Nov. 2, 2010, aside from casting votes for public office, they’ll also have six state constitutional amendments to mull over.

One of the proposals up for a vote, Amendment 4, aims to put land use changes before local voters, and has sparked heated debate.

SEBRING - Two years ago, Highlands County's population teetered over 100,000. Last year, it dropped to 99,713. Today, it's 99,215.

That's the word from the University of Florida's Bureau of Economic and Business research.

"This will be the interim forecast until we get the census," said county planner Don Hanna. "That will come in March of next year."

Exactly where those people have gone is a bit of a mystery, however.

Housing values crashed. Renting became more popular. Much of the population slipped a rung down the wealth ladder. And Miami seems to be booming.

A deluge of Census data released Tuesday crystalized some of the trends under way as South Florida reckons with a wrenching economic downturn, a tepid recovery and a transformed real estate market. One side effect: Thousands of cheap urban condos built during the boom are now attracting renters and bargain hunters.

Home sales may be a key reason why some estimates show the city grew this year, but not everyone agrees that more people moved in.

In April, the population jumped by 1,820 in the Cape compared to the year before - a 1.1 percent increase. That was after it declined 1.8 percent two years ago, according to University of Florida Bureau of Economic and Business Research estimates.

Real estate agents say growth is happening because more homes are selling.
"The 1,800 growth in population is about 780 households," said broker Steve Koffman, Century 21 Sunbelt, Cape Coral.