Industry News

Florida Outperforms As Hurricane Forecast Improves: Muni Credit

Thu, 24 May 2012 16:04:11 GMT

With the Atlantic hurricane season days away, bonds of Florida’s largest real-estate insurer are rallying the most in nine months as forecasters assess a below- average chance the state will be hit by a major storm. Buyers are demanding...

International Appeal Fueling Miami Recovery

Thu, 24 May 2012 16:05:54 GMT

While the situation in Europe bears watching, economists and business leaders say Miami's international appeal should continue to aid its recovery. "Miami-Dade's economy is starting to pick up because of the global component," said J. Antonio...

Tourism Officials Focus Marketing Efforts Overseas to Attract Visitors On New Flights to Zurich

Thu, 24 May 2012 16:07:17 GMT

As Tampa International Airport celebrates its first new European service in 15 years, tourism officials here are working hard to make the flights a big a deal over there. That's because they expect most of the passengers on the twice weekly...

Measure Of Florida's Economy Creeps Up

Thu, 24 May 2012 16:11:06 GMT

Another benchmark in the continuing where-are-we-in-this-recovery question: Comerica Bank's Florida Economic Activity Index rose four points to a level of 109.5 for March, 36 percent off the bottom of the Great Recession. The March reading was...

Few Small Businesses Claim Health Insurance Tax Credit

Wed, 23 May 2012 13:20:16 GMT

Far fewer small employers claimed the health insurance tax credit for small businesses in the health care reform law than were eligible, according to a new government report. The Small Employer Health Insurance Tax Credit was included in the...

Union Plans to Attend HMA Shareholders Meeting to Protest Executive Pay System

Wed, 23 May 2012 13:22:44 GMT

Naples-based Health Management Associates Inc. has found itself a target of an aggressive health-care union, which is protesting the way the company determines the pay for its top executives. The union, SEIU United Healthcare Workers, has...

Final Regs. Issued On Health Insurance Premium Tax Credits

Wed, 23 May 2012 13:24:09 GMT

The IRS issued final regulations governing the Sec. 36B health insurance premium tax credit enacted by 2010’s health care legislation (T.D. 9590). They are scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on May 23. The final regulations...

Port Canaveral Can Fare Better, CEO Says

Wed, 23 May 2012 13:25:12 GMT

Port Canaveral is among the strongest parts of the local economy these days. But Canaveral Port Authority Chief Executive Officer Stan Payne said, although things are “pretty darn good” at the port, he is not going to rest on his...

Sarasota And Charlotte Still Tops for 85+ In Florida

Thu, 24 May 2012 16:15:04 GMT

More than anywhere in Florida, you are more likely to see an 85-year-old face in Sarasota County than one belonging to an infant or toddler. New Census data shows Sarasota and Charlotte counties are No. 1 and No. 2 in the state for their...

Florida's Unemployment Rate Continues in The Right Direction With Drop to 8.7 Percent

Wed, 23 May 2012 13:26:44 GMT

Today, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) announced that Florida’s unemployment rate continued its decline, dropping down to 8.7 in April 2012 – the lowest since January 2009. The April 2012 rate was 1.9 percentage...