A recent survey shows that Floridians still lacked financial confidence in December, a trend that did not change from the month prior.
The consumer confidence survey, conducted by UF’s Survey Research Center at the UF Bureau of Economic and Business Research, showed that while many Floridians are optimistic about the next five years financially, they are not as confident about the upcoming year compared to how they felt in November.
Chris McCarty, director of UF’s Survey Research Center, said the number stayed steady at 71 and that the economy still needs to grow.
“People not buying things is an issue,” he said.
McCarty said while 71 isn’t a bad number, it isn’t great either.
“50 says: we’re in a recession,” he said. “But 90 to 100, we’re doing great.”
The lowest Florida’s consumer confidence has ever hit was 57 in June 2008 in the aftermath of the housing-bubble burst the year prior. UF economics professor Dave Denslow said that that kind of thing affects the data when people answer the questions.
“It can vary depending on what people see on the news,” he said.
