Economy

A new poll finds the vast majority of U.S. adults are feeling some stress about the cost of groceries, as prices continue to rise and concerns about the impact of President Donald Trump's tariffs remain widespread. Only 14% say it's not a source of stress, underscoring the pervasive anxiety most Americans continue to feel about the cost of everyday essentials. The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey finds about 4 in 10 Americans under age 45 say they've used what are known as "buy now, pay later" services to make small purchases on entertainment or restaurant meals or to pay for essentials like groceries or medical care.

Non-farm jobs took a slight uptick over the 12-month period ending in June in the Cape Coral-Fort Myers area. During that time, jobs increased by .7 percent. But that lags behind national and state increases of 1.1 percent and 1.4 percent respectively, according to data released by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

U.S. hiring is slowing sharply as President Donald Trump's erratic and radical trade policies paralyze businesses and raise doubts about the outlook for the world's largest economy. The Labor Department reported Friday that U.S. employers added just 73,000 jobs last month, well short of the 115,000 forecasters had expected. Worse, revisions shaved a stunning 258,000 jobs off May and June payrolls. And the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.2%. Scott Anderson, the chief U.S. economist at BMO Capital Markets, said that a "notable deterioration in U.S. labor market conditions appears to be underway."

What exactly are tariffs? And how will these increase impact businesses in The Sunshine State? FGCU professor Victor Claar joins us to offer insight into the drastic changes in international trade.

The global trade war set off by President Trump is affecting just about everyone, but particularly those already struggling with everyday needs.Social service agencies that help the needy are seeing more demand than ever.

Forever 21 has filed for bankruptcy protection for a second time as traffic in U.S. shopping malls fades and competition from online retailers like Amazon, Temu and Shein intensifies.F21 OpCo, which runs Forever 21 stores, said late Sunday that it will wind down the business in the U.S. under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection while determining if it can continue as a business with a partner, or if it will sell some or all of its assets.The company has 23 stores in Florida, with the remaining Southwest Florida outlets in the Coastland Mall in Naples and in the Mall at University Town Center in Sarasota.

People who've never struggled before now are having to pick between buying food, or medicine, or paying rent and utilities. Is there enough private and government aid to help Southwest Floridians in need?

Ranchers, farmers and timber growers are reporting widespread damage from the wind and rain of Hurricane Helene, which raced through rural North Florida last week.Chicken houses had roofs blown off. Acres of sweet corn and carrots were laid horizontal. Irrigation systems have been uprooted. Fences were destroyed by fallen trees. Hay has been left wet and moldy in damaged barns.Incoming Senate President Ben Albritton, a Wauchula Republican and citrus grower, described conditions in fields across North Florida as “worse” than after Hurricane Idalia in August 2023. Idalia took a similar track, crossed many of the same fields and inflicted more than $400 million in damage to the industry.

Like most businesses in pricey Collier County, the library system cannot seem to attract and keep its workforce.

This year looks to be a much better one for the U.S. economy than business economists were forecasting just a few months ago, according to a survey released Monday.The economy looks set to grow 2.2% this year after adjusting for inflation, according to the National Association for Business Economics. That’s up from the 1.3% that economists from universities, businesses and investment firms predicted in the association’s prior survey, which was conducted in November.