UNF enrolling more nursing students than ever as US job growth report shows high demand in health care
With job growth turning out to be much stronger than expected in March, there were three main categories where the hiring was mainly concentrated including health care and private education, leisure and hospitality, and government.
Florida consumers are feeling more positive about the economy than they have in two years
Consumers in Florida are feeling more positive about the economy than they have in two years, with consumer confidence reaching a two-year high. Inflation has also significantly decreased, and wages are now above pre-pandemic levels. Despite this improvement, financial planners emphasize that consumer sentiment is still not at pre-pandemic levels. A study conducted by the University of Florida shows that consumer sentiment in the state ranks at 73 points, with the highest possible index being 150. However, individuals' perspectives on the economy vary, with some expressing optimism while others voice concerns about increasing expenses and job insecurity.
Tell us: Are you feeling more optimistic about the economy? Why or why not?
Americans are feeling more optimistic about the economy, as indicated by a new study out of the University of Michigan. The study reveals that consumer sentiment has increased by 13% in January, reaching its highest level since July 2021. This positive outlook comes as inflation continues to soften. Additionally, the January jobs report shows that the U.S. economy added 353,000 jobs last month, with the unemployment rate remaining steady at 3.7%. Stay updated with the latest economic news and trends by following our coverage on Channel 4.
News4JAX launches new streaming podcast, โThis Week in Jacksonville: Business Editionโ with Kent Justice
It's no secret that Jacksonville's economy is growing and businesses here are booming. In fact, Jacksonville is the fifth fastest growing city in America, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. And with that comes a lot of questions about jobs, real estate, finances and more. That's why we've started a brand new streaming series, branching off of our very successful policy show "This Week in Jacksonville". It's called "This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition.
British economy unexpectedly grows by 0.2% in second quarter largely because of June weather boost
The British economy unexpectedly grew in the second quarter of the year, largely as a result of a strong rebound in June when many businesses particularly in the leisure sector benefited from the warm and settled weather.
Building a do-it-yourself air purifier is easier than you think
Known as the Corsi-Rosenthal box, it pulls air through filters on the sides and blows out clean air. Itโs proven to reduce indoor exposure to airborne particles. The box can decrease the levels of particles in the air, such as dust or wildfire smoke.
Piers at future site of Shipyards West Park need to be replaced, could cost up to $30M in current design
The Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) met on Thursday to talk about how much more money could be needed for projects on both the Northbank and the Southbank, including the area known as the Shipyards and the former home of the Jacksonville Landing, now called Riverfront Plaza.
Businesses reap economic gains from Georgia-Florida festivities, game
Tens of thousands of Florida Gator and Georgia Bulldog fans from near and far filled the stands of the TIAA Bank Field Saturday afternoon to watch this yearโs much anticipated Georgia-Florida matchup, resulting in a major boost for the Jacksonville economy.
Filling up with gas is costing drivers in Florida more than in Georgia
Weโre not even into the busy summer travel months and already the price of gasoline has risen by 20-cents the past two weeks. Drivers in Florida on average are paying $4.20 while the average price of gas in Georgia is more than 35-cents cheaper.
As gas prices rise in the US, countries around the world are feeling pain at the pump even more
According to data from globalpetrolprices.com, 46 countries has gas prices that are $6 a gallon or more, 26 have prices that are at least $7 a gallon while nine countries have gas prices that are $8 a gallon or more.
Here are the best, worst days to travel for the 2021 holiday season
Whether youโve already booked holiday travel plans, or youโre waiting for the last minute to make sure there arenโt restrictions, there are certain things to keep in mind about which days will be best to travel, and what resources might be more scarce than in years past.
UK economy ended 2020 better than previously thought
The pandemic has battered the British economy, which has suffered its deepest recession in more than 300 years. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)LONDON โ Official figures show that the British economy ended 2020 on a stronger footing than previously thought but that it suffered a bigger than anticipated fall in output in the immediate aftermath of the first coronavirus lockdown. In its latest revisions for 2020 data, the Office for National Statistics said Wednesday that the British economy contracted by 19.5% during the second quarter, the first full quarter of lockdown. Overall, the agency said, the British economy ended 2020 9.8% smaller, slightly better than the previous estimate of 9.9%. The U.K. as a whole has had Europeโs deadliest coronavirus outbreak, with over 126,000 people having died after testing positive for COVID-19.
Indian economy shrinks 7.7% in fiscal 2020-21 amid pandemic
India's economy contracted by 7.7% in the 2020-21 financial year, battered by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report released Friday. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)NEW DELHI โ India's economy contracted by 7.7% in the 2020-21 financial year, battered by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report released Friday. A country enters a technical recession if its economy contracts for two successive quarters. The downturn followed a strict two-month lockdown imposed across the country beginning in March to combat the pandemic. That was followed by a $35.14 billion package to stimulate the economy by boosting jobs, consumer demand, manufacturing, agriculture and exports hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
Another recession looms for UK economy as lockdowns bite
The Office for National Statistics said that as a result of the fall, the economy is 8.5% smaller than its pre-pandemic peak. Because of the November fall, the economy is set to contract again in the fourth quarter. โThe economy took a hit from restrictions put in place to contain the pandemic during November, with pubs and hairdressers seeing the biggest impact," said Darren Morgan, director for economic statistics. The hope is that the rollout of coronavirus vaccines โ the U.K. is ahead of many other countries โ will see a pick-up in activity later this year. ___Follow AP coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at:https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemichttps://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccinehttps://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
Georgia governor reflects on COVID-19 battle, touts economy
FILE - Georgia Gov. Geoff Duncan hold a news conference Wednesday evening, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta, to condemn the breach of the U.S. Capitol. The 2020 election cycle has left Georgia's Republican governor bruised even though he wasn't on the ballot. READ: Georgia Gov. Kemp said his budget includes $40 million to establish a โRural Innovation Fundโ for rural Georgia businesses.
UK economy bounces back in summer but faces wintry chills
The London streets are nearly deserted during the first full week of a four-week coronavirus lockdown in England, but some are calling to allow businesses to reopen their doors to kickstart the city economy. The imposition of new limits on public life in the autumn means the economy will likely end the year even smaller. The Office for National Statistics said Thursday that the economy grew by 15.5% in the July to September period. Despite the third-quarter improvement, the statistics agency said the economy was still 9.7% below where it was at the end of 2019. In addition to virus developments, the British economy remains hobbled by uncertainty over the future trade relationship between the U.K. and the EU.
IMF blames resurgent coronavirus for UK growth downgrades
(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)LONDON โ The International Monetary Fund has downgraded its growth forecasts for the British economy for this year and next, following an acceleration in the number of coronavirus infections over the past couple of weeks. In its annual assessment of the British economy published Thursday, the Washington D.C.-based body lowered the forecasts it made just two weeks ago. Instead of shrinking by 9.8% this year, the Fund now expects the British economy to contract by 10.4%. The other U.K. nations โ Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland โ have also imposed fresh restrictions in recent weeks. After that, the British economy contracted by nearly a quarter before the restrictions started to be eased and large sections of the economy reopened.
UK economy slump not as bad as feared but still a record
LONDON โ The British economy did not contract as much as originally thought during the second quarter of the year when coronavirus lockdown measures were at their most intense โ though the slump remained the worst on record. The Office for National Statistics said Wednesday that the British economy contracted by 19.8% in the April to June quarter from the previous three-month period, slightly less than its previous estimate of 20.4%. It now estimates that the economy shrank by 2.5% in the first quarter, against 2.2% previously. โIt is clear that the U.K. is in the largest recession on record," the statistics agency said. Since May, when lockdown measures started to be eased, the British economy has managed to eke out three months of growth, which has helped it recoup around half of the output lost.
Global economic outlook not as bad as expected - OECD
PARIS โ The global economy is not doing as bad as previously expected, especially in the United States and China, but has still stuffered an unprecedented drop due to the coronavirus pandemic, an international watchdog said Wednesday. The global economy is expected to rebound and grow by 5% next year, the organization said. The OECD upgraded its forecast for the U.S. economy, anticipating a contraction of 3.8% this year instead of a plunge of 7.3% forecast previously. The Paris-based organization, which advises developed countries on economic policy, urged governments not to raise taxes or cut spending next year โto preserve confidence and limit uncertainty." โThe aim must be to avoid premature budgetary tightening at a time when economies are still fragile,โ it said.
What gifts NOT to buy on Fatherโs Day, according to one survey
For those who are stumped about what kind of gift to buy for Fatherโs Day, maybe one suggestion that could help is this: Start with what not to buy for the occasion. Coupon Lawn surveyed more than 1,000 fathers in the United States to see what their most unwanted gifts were for Fatherโs Day. The survey found that 46% of people buy clothes as Fatherโs Day gifts. The responses found that 30% of fathers dislike receiving these, even though 59% of people who get gifts on Fatherโs Day buy cards. Coupon Lawn said as part of its survey that $5.3 billion is spent on unwanted Fatherโs Day gifts, although that is half of the $10.5 billion the site said is spent on unwanted Motherโs Day gifts.
Study finds Jacksonville-area economic impact from pandemic will be severe
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. A study from the Northeast Florida Regional Council shows the coronavirus pandemics impact on Northeast Florida will be about 15% more severe than the national average. According to the councils report, the focus of the analysis was on how changes in the national economy will be experienced in Northeast Florida. Its model shows that even in a best-case scenario more than 41,000 jobs will be lost in the Jacksonville area. The model shows St. Johns County will see the second most job losses with more then 4,000 jobs cut, but that county could reach pre-pandemic economic levels by next year. For more information on the Northeast Florida Regional Council, visit www.nefrc.org/.
All the questions we are asking ourselves as return of youth sports takes shape
With more states lifting stay-at-home orders and loosening restrictions, it could lead to the return of youth sports sidelined by the COVID-19 pandemic. While organizations in just about every state are formulating plans to return, some states have already set in motion dates for a return to action. The Ohio Department of Health said youth leagues for non-contact and limited-contact sports were able to start May 26, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said youth sports and camps could start back up May 31, with games likely starting in mid-June, while Florida Gov. For more serious and expensive travel sports, this might be about the time organizations start seasons and playing prominent tournaments, but the clock is ticking.
Shoppers see higher prices at grocery stores during Memorial Day weekend
Your Memorial Day meals will be a bit more expensive this year as grocery store prices keep going up. This all happening ahead of the Memorial Day weekend, where lots of people will be throwing meats on the grill. Inside a Publix in Arlington, we saw buy one get one deal on hot dogs priced at $4.99. Some people recommend finding non-traditional items to eat this memorial day, and maybe keeping it that way for the time being. With a shortage of food supply, the demand grows higher which means the prices go up.
5 tips to start a franchise in a pandemic economy
Historically, economic downturns have been among the best times for people to start franchises. With the COVID-19 pandemic causing unemployment rates to soar quickly, starting a franchise might be on peopleโs minds. Diana Trondsen, a small business and franchising expert who is also a consultant with FranNet, offered five suggestions for those interested in starting their own franchise. When first considering whether to start a franchise, whether itโs a food or retail store, taking the time to analyze your life situation and then brainstorm the best ideas are essential. When researching what type of franchise to open, one needs to see how well competitors have done in that community.
Why are liquor stores considered โessentialโ during COVID-19 pandemic? Here are 5 reasons
But diving into the issue more closely, the reasons why liquor stores remain open and thriving become a little clearer, even if they are debatable to some. Here are five reasons why it can be beneficial for liquor stores to remain open during the pandemic. Given this, liquor stores technically fall under the category of โfood and agricultureโ on the level of grocery stores and pharmacies, and thus, are considered essential. Grocery stores donโt have the selection of liquor stores. Do you agree that liquor stores should be considered essential, and thus, be allowed to remain open?
Need some income as pandemic continues to unfold? Here are jobs that are more in-demand than ever
There are many jobs that are high in demand during the coronavirus pandemic, which, at the very least, can be a short-term Band-Aid to the financial worries people have. Here are some jobs in which people can make some cash, right now:Delivery driversYou could drive for a number of companies right now. With the pandemic further driving online retail sales, employees who can deliver those increased orders for companies are like gold right now. Grocery store helpThis isnโt much of a revelation, especially for those who have waited in long lines and seen empty shelves at grocery stores in recent weeks. Did we miss any other jobs that have grown in demand in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic?