Florida Consumer Confidence Is A Coronavirus Casualty
April 1, 2020
Consumer confidence in Florida has fallen victim to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a University of Florida survey.
The UF Survey Research Center’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research announced Tuesday that the March decline was the largest in the history of the poll.
“After reaching its highest level in almost 20 years, consumer confidence among Floridians plummeted 13.5 points in March to 88.8 from a revised figure of 102.3 in February. Similarly, consumer sentiment at the national level experienced a decline of 11.9 points,” the poll found. “This is the largest month-to-month decline in record since the series began tracking consumer sentiment in February 1985. The magnitude of the fall is higher than the decline due to Hurricane Katrina in September 2005, which is now the second highest in record with a plunge of 11.7 points.”
“The decline in consumer confidence was fueled by growing pessimism in all five components due to the economic damage brought by the coronavirus outbreak,” said Hector H. Sandoval, director of the Economic Analysis Program at UF’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research.
Opinions as to whether this is a good time to buy a major household item like an appliance dove 29.1 points from 108.6 to 79.5, the steepest decline in this month’s reading. Opinions of Floridians about their personal finances now compared with a year ago decreased 8.8 points from 95.3 to 86.5.
Both downward readings were shared by Floridians across all sociodemographic groups; however, men reported more pessimistic views.
Similarly, the three components representing the expectations of future economic conditions declined among Floridians in March. Expectations of personal finances a year from now fell 4.8 points from 105.4 to 100.6. The outlook of U.S. economic conditions over the next year dropped 20.4 points from 101.9 to 81.5. Additionally, expectations of U.S. economic conditions over the next five years decreased 4.2 points from 100.2 to 96. These downward readings were shared by all Floridians with the exception of those 60 and older, whose expectation about the national economic outlook over the next five years showed a favorable change.
“As consumers stay home and businesses shut down in an effort to contain the spread of the virus, consumer spending has quickly slowed, and massive layoffs have occurred across the state and country. As a result, we observe the largest declines in confidence coming from consumers’ opinions as to whether now is a good time to buy a big-ticket item and their expectations about the national economy in the short-run,” Sandoval said.
“Looking ahead, we expect consumer confidence to decline as long as the measures to contain the outbreak remain in place. The cumulative economic losses are bringing to an end the economic expansion that started in July 2009. For Florida, a state with a large portion of economic activity in industries severely affected by these measures, the downturn will potentially be more severe,” Sandoval said
Conducted March 1-26, the UF study reflects the responses of 337 individuals who were reached on cellphones, representing a demographic cross section of Florida. The index used by UF researchers is benchmarked to 1966, which means a value of 100 represents the same level of confidence for that year. The lowest index possible is a 2, the highest is 150.
Court Clerk Offers Limited Services, No Marriage Licenses, Century Courthouse Closed
April 1, 2020
The MC Blanchard and Theodore Bruno Juvenile Justice buildings remain open but have limited public access. The Escambia Clerk of the Circuit Courts office will continue to process the following emergency court services:
- Petitions for Dating Violence, Domestic Violence, Repeat Violence, Sexual Violence or Stalking Injunctions
- Baker Act petitions
- Marchman Act petitions
- Vulnerable Adult petitions
- Adult Protective Services petitions
- Emergency guardianship appointment
- Family Law and Dependency cases in which the imminent safety of children is at issue
- To make payments and access other services, please visit our website at escambiaclerk.com.
The following Clerk’s offices remain closed.
- Clerk’s Official Records, Finance and Clerk to the Board Offices located at 221 Palafox Place
- Century Courthouse office
- Traffic Office, MC Blanchard Judicial Building, 190 W. Government St.
- Marriage Office, MC Blanchard Judicial Building, 190 W. Government St.
- The Public Records Center, 120 E. Blount St.
- The following services are suspended until further notice: Marriage licenses and Passports
Pictured: The Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century. NorthEscambi.com photo, click to enlarge.
Nice Sunny Wednesday, Low Into The Middle 40s Wednesday Night
April 1, 2020
Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 71. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 75. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the afternoon.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 79. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning.
Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
Sunday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 81.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.
Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80.
Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85.
Work Is Continuing On Nine Mile Road Project
April 1, 2020
Work is continuing on the Nine Mile Road project between Beulah and Pine Forest Roads. Crews are shown placing and compacting dirt for the new westbound roadway at OLF 8, just west of Navy Federal Credit Union’s campus. The work is being performed off the current roadway with no current impact to traffic. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Scammers Use COVID-19 Stimulus Package To Target Floridians
April 1, 2020
Attorney General Ashley Moody has issued a consumer alert to warn Floridians about scammers using the new coronavirus stimulus package to target Floridians. The $2 trillion federal stimulus bill includes individual payments, expanded unemployment coverage, student loan changes and much more. News of the historic spending bill is providing ammo for scammers already trying to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic to rip off Floridians.
Moody said, “Anytime the government provides benefits, scammers swarm like sharks in a feeding frenzy, trying to steal payments before they can be distributed. Sadly, even before the coronavirus stimulus package passed, scammers began sending text messages to people claiming they could make a claim by clicking a link that most likely contained malware. Be skeptical of any unsolicited messages from strangers asking you to click links or provide personal information to receive benefits, and educate yourself about the economic rescue package now, to avoid falling victim to these and other new fraud tactics.”
Individuals earning $75,000 or less and married couples earning $150,000 or less are eligible for a one-time payment of $1,200 per person—plus $500 for every qualifying child 16 or younger. People earning less than $198,000 will receive a lower payment.
Tax filers who already provided banking information to the Internal Revenue Service will receive a direct deposit in the coming weeks, and DO NOT NEED to take action. The IRS will mail notices to beneficiaries within a few weeks after payments are made. Anyone who receives a notice, but did not receive a payment, should contact the IRS immediately. The IRS will not initiate contact with tax filers by email, text messages or social media to request personal or financial information. The IRS emphasizes on its website that no sign-up is needed to receive payment.
- To guard against stimulus payment scams, NEVER:
- Respond to text messages, emails or ads directing you to click on a link;
- Provide any personal or financial information in response to an unsolicited message;
- Trust Caller ID displays claiming a call is from the IRS—as spoofing technology allows scammers to change phone displays to impersonate government agencies; and
- Make any advance payment in order to secure or expedite access to a benefit.
- The above tips also apply to anyone seeking unemployment benefits under the new legislation. American workers are being hit especially hard by the COVID-19 pandemic with millions already losing jobs. Under the new economic bill, eligible workers will receive an extra $600 per week on top of current state benefits.
To receive the expanded unemployment payments, workers should file directly with the state and not respond to solicitations seeking personal information. To file for Reemployment Assistance Program Benefits in Florida, call (877) 846-8770 or visit FloridaJobs.org.
Anyone who encounters a coronavirus stimulus package scam or any other types of COVID-19 fraud, should contact the Florida Attorney General’s Office at 1(866) 9NO-SCAM or MyFloridaLegal.com.