Economy

Farmland and woods are disappearing, but some rural-focused businesses are finding ways to survive, even as more housing and business developments move inland across Southwest Florida.

A new report shows that nearly half of U.S. households did not earn enough to cover their necessities in 2024.

Although fears of a recession over President Donald Trump’s tariff policies did not come to fruition, Sarasota County Commissioners were told recently that the nation’s military engagement in the Middle East presents a looming economic threat. The most immediate impacts of the Iran War are felt at the pumps and in the price of airfare and there could be other long-term ramifications.

It was a rollercoaster of a ride for the Florida economy in 2025. Governor Ron DeSantis looked to alleviate homeowners’ pocketbooks by proposing to eliminate property taxes for primary residences.

Economic uncertainty surrounds the US, due to rises in tariffs, a soft job market and the recent government shutdown. Yet that doesn’t seem to be dissuading shoppers this upcoming holiday season.

It’s getting harder to financially get by in the State of Florida. Despite the minimum wage rising this past year to $14, that amount is not enough to get by according to the Florida Policy Institute.

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.