Florida News That Impacts You – May 22nd, 2023
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Florida has had three of the top ten fastest growing cities over the past year according to new Census data. North Port, Cape Coral and Port St. Lucie all experienced population growth of between 6% to 7% over the past year. Related... The Villages was the fastest growing metro in the country over the past year adding 7.5% in population.
- Florida added 21,200 jobs in April maintaining a 2.6% unemployment rate, which remains well below the national average. Nine out of ten industries added jobs during the month, led by professional and business services during the month. The unemployment rate in the West Palm Beach metro stands at 2.3% - one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country.
- Florida experienced record tourism once again in the first quarter of this year. According to Visit Florida, 37.9 million tourists visited the state during the first three months of the year. The total was not only a record for the first quarter of the year but was the highest total number of visitors in any quarter in Florida’s history.
- Gas prices continued lower through the weekend. Statewide the average price for regular unleaded is currently $3.40 per gallon – eight cents lower than a week ago. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.65 per gallon, which is the 2nd highest price in the state.