| Florida quarterly sales increase biggest in three years |
| Florida businesses posted their biggest quarterly sales increase in three years, while their counterparts in Sarasota County -- where the recession has been deeper and longer -- saw their biggest jump in four years. |
| @ Sarasota Herald Tribune | Posted: 06/21/10 at 0201 EDST |
| Consumer confidence among Floridians fell sharply in May, down seven points to 71. |
| All five of the index components registered declines. Perceptions of personal finances now compared to a year ago fell one point to 56 while expectations of personal finances over the next year fell four points to 80. Expectations of U.S. economic conditions over the next year fell sharply from 82 in April to 68 in May. Expectations of U.S. economic conditions over the next five years fell six points to 73. Perceptions as to whether it is a good time to buy big-ticket items fell eight points to 79. |
| @ UF Bureau of Economic and Business Research | Posted: 06/21/10 at 0215 EDST |
| Florida’s May Employment Figures Released |
| Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May 2010 is 11.7 percent. This represents 1,086,000 jobless out of a labor force of 9,272,000. The unemployment rate is down 0.3 percentage point from the April rate of 12.0 percent. This was the second monthly decline in the state’s unemployment rate since February 2000 |
| @ Agency for Workforce Innovation | Posted: 06/21/10 at 0223 EDST |
| Orlando area of sales up 38% |
| Members of the Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association reported completed sales on 2,605 homes in May, which is a 38.42 percent increase over the May 2009 mark of 1,882. The number of new contracts filed in May 2010 (3,669) represents an increase of 6.19 percent more than were filed in May 2009 (3,455). The area’s pending sales statistic — also an indicator of future sales activity – is likewise remaining at a record high with 56.76 percent more homes (10,351) under contract and awaiting closing in May of this year than in May of last year (6,603). |
| @ Orlando Regional Realtor Association | Posted: 06/21/10 at 0245 EDST |