Month: July 2013

Archives for July 2013

South Florida Unemployment Rises Slightly in June

South Florida Unemployment Rises Slightly in June

This is the first downtick in the last several months. It is nothing of concern since the way up is never a straight line. In the month of June the South Florida Unemployment rate actually increased. It is still far better than what it was a year ago.

South Florida’s non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 7.6 percent in June, but is significantly lower than the 9.1 percent rate a year ago.

Florida’s seasonally adjusted jobless rate remained unchanged, at 7.1 percent, in June, down 1.7 percentage points from 8.8 percent a year ago. The state’s May and June rates were the lowest since September 2008, when it was at 7 percent, according to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

Nonagricultural employment reached 7.5 million in Florida last month, an increase of 9,300 jobs from May.

Florida jobless rate was less than the nation’s 7.6 percent unemployment rate.

The employed workforce in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties lost 22,058 jobs from May to June, according to state data. The labor force also shrank to 2.95 million people from 2.97 million. During the last 12 months, the region added 33,935 jobs overall, and decreased its unemployment rate by 1.5 percentage points.

Miami-Dade lost 16,285 jobs in June, while its non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose 0.3 percentage points, month-over-month, to 9 percent. That number is 1.1 percentage points lower than the jobless rate one year ago. The county’s labor force also lost 14,715 workers in June.

Broward’s unemployment rate increased 0.3 percentage points, to 6.1 percent, in June. That number is significantly less than what it was a year ago, at 7.8 percent. The county lost 1,757 jobs from May to June, while its labor force grew by 1,228 workers.

Palm Beach also saw a month-over-month increase in its jobless rate – to 7.5 percent in June from 7 percent in May – but was down from last year’s 9.2 percent. The county lost 4,016 jobs between May and June, according to state data. The county’s labor force lost 1,022 workers in June.

 

These ups and downs are to be expected. What is important is to look at the overall trend. As every other business here in South Florida we hope this is not the beginning of a downward trend but just the natural process of that upward trend that we have been enjoying for the past few months.

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Hurricane Tips for South Florida Businesses

Hurricane Tips

It is Hurricane season and South Florida businesses need no reminder. To further add to the ever present threat we had a reminder this week of how quickly things can change. Fortunately, this time it was for better. Tropical Storm Chantal was forecasted to hit Florida but the storm dissipated in the Caribbean before it ever became a serious threat. Nevertheless, this is a great opportunity to offer some hurricane tips to our fellow business owners.

 

Tropical storms and hurricanes are as much as a concern for businesses as they are for residential homes.

As the hurricane season ramps up, theSouth Florida Business Journal put together some tips from Broward County on preparing your business prior to the arrival of a hurricane.

The following steps should be taken by businesses prior to the arrival of a storm:

• Cover all glass windows and doors with shutters, paneling or other protective material, such as plywood or masonite.

• Safeguard company records or make updates and secure in a bank or an internet cloud.

• Move important documents away from windows. Those on the first floor should be placed on tables or otherwise raised off the floor in the event the first floor becomes flooded by either increased tidal action or excessive rainfall.

• Use large plastic bags to protect items such as computers from water damage. It is advisable to have a supply of heavy sheeting, air conditioning duct tape and some sandbags set aside for securing first-floor doorways against flood water.

• Take before and after pictures of the business or plant to aid in insurance or tax credit claims after the storm.

If closing the business/plant during the emergency:

• Advise local law enforcement if the business will be empty of people or if security guards will be on site. If guards are to remain on site, their safety should be provided for.

• Shut down all incoming power, electric, gas and water lines. Before restoring service, check all utilities. If there is a question about the condition of the utilities, call the appropriate company.

• Disconnect all electrical appliances and equipment such as typewriters, copiers, coffee makers, electric clocks, calculators, etc. so they do not create excessive surge when electric power is restored.

• Protect all vent hoods, exhaust louvers, etc. from wind and rain.

• Service and test the building’s emergency power generator under load to make sure it is operating. Check out all equipment, utilities, fire equipment and first aid materials. Repair and replace faulty items as necessary.

• Check drains on the roof of the building to ensure they are clear and able to drain off the heavy rain, which usually accompanies a hurricane. Clogged roof drains could cause the roof to collapse from the weight of accumulated water, or cause damage to the interior of the building if water on the roof becomes deep enough to cover vent pipes and run down inside the building.

• Secure or bring inside any potted plants or other decorative objectives that could be blown about by the hurricane force winds.

• Check storage yard for materials that might be blown around. Secure items that cannot be brought inside.

• Dumpsters can be secured by lashing two or more together with rope or chains and chocking the wheels. They might also be secured to a tree or telephone pole, if available.

• Relocate empty railroad cars, if possible.

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Florida Consumer Confidence Increases 4 Months in a Row

Florida Consumer Confidence

We have been observing and reporting an array of improved economic metrics throughout the last few months.  We are now reporting that Florida Consumer Confidence is on the rise as well. It is a critical one because the Retail Industry drives about 70% of our economy, and there is a strong correlation between consumer confidence and spending.

Consumer confidence among Floridians rose another point in June to 82, according to a University of Florida survey.

This is the fourth straight month of increases for a post-recession high.

“The increase in our index for June is so far led by a relatively large increase in perceptions of personal finances,” said Chris McCarty, director of UF’s Survey Research Center in the Bureau of Economic and Business Research. “There are several reasons for this increase, but the stock market gains for the first part of June certainly played a role in that. It’s worth noting that perceptions of current buying conditions are at a post-recession high of 93.

“The last time it reached this level was April of 2007 when it was 97. This was the beginning of the collapse in the housing market.”

Perceptions of personal finances now compared to a year ago rose three points to 70 while expectations of personal finances a year form now stayed flat at 82.

Expectations of U.S. economic conditions over the next year rose two points to 83 while expectations of U.S. economic conditions over the next five years rose a point to 83. Perceptions as to whether it is a good time to buy big-ticket items such as a car or large appliance rose two points to 93.

“For now consumers are still not registering any fears about the effects of sequestration,” said McCarty. “Most are concerned by the possibility of a rise in interest rates as the Federal Reserve signaled it may reduce its intervention, specifically by reducing the amount of Treasury bonds and mortgage backed securities it purchases totaling $85 billion each month.”

Concerns over this move is likely over-stated for two reasons, McCarty said.

First, the Fed is unlikely to reduce the purchases to zero but will likely gradually reduce the effort. If the economy shows signs of weakness the Fed will resume the intervention, he added.

It is also worth noting that conditions are not the same as they were in 2008 when quantitative easing began, he said. While the housing market is certainly helped by lower interest rates, there had been a low rate of building and an increase in population, leading to pent-up demand.

Housing prices may decline from their recent highs, but the underlying quality of loans is now very different from 2008. Recent buyers have good credit scores and typically put 20 percent down on their homes. This means that we will not see the massive foreclosures that led to the last recession, McCarty said.

“The Fed has seen the economy through dangerous economic times, but the economy is now operating normally. There was nothing normal about 2008,” he said.

Now that we are living in the “new normal”, things are slowly but surely improving. It is encouraging and gratifying to see most economic indicators improving.

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