Politics

Consumer sentiment in Florida ends 2025 with an improving outlook

Published

6 days ago

January 6, 2026

Floridians are feeling more upbeat about the economy heading into 2026, according to the latest consumer sentiment survey conducted by University of Florida researchers.

Consumer sentiment increased by 2.4 points to 74.9 in December, up from November’s figure of 72.5. It’s also in line with an increase in consumer sentiment across America, which increased by 1.9 points last month.

Four out of the five components that make up the Florida index for consumer sentiment increased in December. Views of personal financial situations compared to a year ago increased 3.9 points, rising from 64.8 to 68.7.

Expectations about future economic conditions were also up in December. Outlooks on personal finances in the next year, expectations of economic conditions across the country in the next year, and expectations of U.S. economic conditions for the next five years all showed increases in optimism for the month.

The only area that registered some pessimism was the outlook on buying big-ticket household items such as a refrigerator or furniture. That sentiment dropped by 0.4 points, falling from 62.4 in November to 62 in December.

Hector H. Sandoval, Director of the Economic Analysis Program at the UF Bureau of Economic and Business Research, said that while consumer sentiment showed an uptick last month, there was stubborn pessimism in 2025 overall. Four months in a row toward the end of the year showed sliding sentiment.

“As the year ends, Florida’s consumer sentiment closes with an overall decline, with December’s reading nearly 12 points below January’s level. This downward shift was observed across sociodemographic groups. It is worth noting that the gains in sentiment following the November 2024 presidential election were erased, leaving consumer sentiment near the average levels observed prior to the election,” Sandoval said.

“These trends are not surprising given the significant policy changes introduced by the new administration, which added uncertainty for economic agents, particularly with respect to trade policy. Other relevant developments included reductions in the federal workforce, the longest federal government shutdown of the year, which affected federal data collection; a softening labor market characterized by limited hiring and layoffs, and persistent inflationary pressures.”

Sandoval added that one bright spot for a possible economic upswing is the recent lowering of interest rates by the Federal Reserve heading into 2026.

The consumer sentiment survey was conducted by UF researchers between Nov. 1 and Dec. 19 through telephone surveys with 251 residents across Florida.

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Politics

Gaming officials, sheriff’s investigators bust 3 suspected illegal gambling houses in Lake County

Published

7 hours ago

January 11, 2026

May Greene

Officials say illegal houses of gambling were broken up in Umatilla and Leesburg following complaints filed with law enforcement.

Three illegal gambling locations were shutdown this month by the Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC) and several law enforcement agencies in Lake County.

The joint investigative operation named “Calvin Coolidge” focused on the sites that were engaged in illegal gambling in Umatilla and Leesburg. FGCC officials said the investigation was launched after complaints and other research into reported illegal slot machines.

Following the execution of several search warrants, officials seized 231 gambling machines such as slot machines and some $157,000 in illegal gambling funds.

“These enforcement actions demonstrate our commitment to protecting Florida communities and preserving the integrity of the state’s gaming laws,” said FGCC Executive Director Alana Zimmer. “Illegal gambling operations undermine lawful businesses and exploit patrons. FGCC will continue to work proactively with law enforcement partners to shut them down.”

The lead law enforcement agency was the Lake County Sheriff’s Office who teamed up with FGCC investigators and targeted the House of Treasure on State Road 19 in Umatilla. There, investigators seized 56 illegal gambling machines and nearly $76,000 in cash from those machines. Three people were served notices to appear on charges of possession of slot machines and keeping a gambling house.

Two other sites in Leesburg, Hot Seats on U.S. 27, and The Hub on West Main Street, yielded more evidence. Investigators seized 77 illegal gambling machines at Hot Seats and $35,621 in suspected gambling machines. Two people were given notices to appear on the same charges of possession of slot machines and keeping a gambling house.

The Hub yielded more evidence including 98 illegal gambling machines and $46,597 in suspected illegal gaming proceeds. Another two people at The Hub were administered notices to appear on the same charges at the other locations in Lake County.

The FGCC has been stepping up more investigations into illegal gaming establishments in the state since early 2025.

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Politics

Erika Booth starts 2026 with commanding cash lead in HD 35

Published

10 hours ago

January 11, 2026

May Greene

Rep. Erika Booth is starting 2026 with a sizable financial edge in one of the most closely watched House races in the state.

Campaign finance reports show the St. Cloud Republican closed 2025 with $111,752 raised in her campaign account and an additional $98,971 on hand in Booth PAC for an overall total of $192,119 on hand.

Booth’s lone challenger so far, Eric Gray, is starting the year with significantly fewer resources. Gray, a Democrat, entered the House race in October after previously running for Orange County Commission. He showed $15,860 raised in his first reporting period and spent $11,957, leaving him with less than $4,000 on hand at the end of the 2025.

Republican leaders have already signaled HD 35 remains a priority district this cycle. Booth is expected to receive full support from House Speaker-designate Sam Garrison and the Florida House Republican Campaign Committee, the primary campaign arm for state House Republicans.

Before her election to the House, Booth spent more than 20 years working as an elementary school teacher and previously served on the Osceola County School Board.

Gray has spent decades leading nonprofit organizations in Orange County and has cited opposition to HB 1365, a 2024 homelessness-related measure sponsored by Garrison, as a central motivation for his campaign.

HD 35 covers parts of Orange and Osceola counties. According to the most recent L2 voter data, the district is home to 42,837 Republicans and 41,806 Democrats as well as 48,995 third- and no-party voters.

The incumbent won the seat in 2024, defeating Democrat Tom Keen 52%-48% in a rematch after Keen prevailed in a 2023 Special Election. At the top of the ticket, Donald Trump carried the district with 52% in 2024, while Gov. Ron DeSantis won it with 56% two years earlier.

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Politics

Gov. DeSantis names an appointment and reappointmen to the UWF Board of Trustees

Published

10 hours ago

January 11, 2026

May Greene

The appointment, Kevin Mason, is an alumnus of University of West Florida.

The University of West Florida (UWF) Board of Trustees is getting a new member while another is returning to the panel for continued service.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced this month that he’s appointed Kevin Mason to the panel that oversees policy for UWF. DeSantis also reappointed Paul Bailey to the Board of Trustees for the campus located in Florida’s Panhandle.

Mason is an alumnus of UWF where he earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from the school. Mason is also steeped in business.

Mason is the CEO and Co-Founder of Acentria Insurance which is based in Destin. The company now has offices and services throughout the Southeast United States and has grown to about 50 locations. Mason was also a Producer and Managing Partner of the North Florida Operations for the Insurance Office of America.

Bailey will return to the board following the reappointment. Bailey is a lawyer for Welton Law Firm. Welton is based in Crestview and provides multiple legal services.

Bailey is also a registered firearms instructor with the National Rifle Association. He’s also an Adjunct Professor at Pensacola Christian College. Bailey earned his pre-law bachelor’s degree from that school and went on to get his law degree from Regent University.

The UWF Board of Trustees has 13 members that sit on the panel.The board is the governing body for the institution. Florida’s Governor appoints six of those members while the board itself votes on appointments for the other five members.

The President of the Faculty Senate occupies one of those seats while another is held by the President of the Student Government Association.

The UWF campus had a student enrollment of nearly 16,000 as of Fall Semester.

The appointment and reappointment named by DeSantis still have to get final approval by the Florida Senate.