Fla. consumer confidence rises 3 months straight
Fla. consumer confidence keeps rising; Reaches highest level since Great Recession
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Consumer confidence continues to rise in Florida and is reaching its highest point since before the start of the Great Recession.
The monthly University of Florida survey released Tuesday shows the state's consumer confidence rose two points in May to 81. That's on a scale of 2 to 150 benchmarked to 1966 at a value of 100.
The score is the highest it has been since August 2007. It marks the third straight months of increases.
Chris McCarty, who directs the survey, said that the numbers reflect a growing optimism among Floridians.
But he cautioned that the full impacts of federal budget cuts that went into effect this year could still hamper confidence. He said they could impact whether or not residents from other states vacation this year in Florida.
