University of Florida News

GAINESVILLE — A mediocre holiday season for retailers, stagnant wages and record-high consumer debt translated into a slightly gloomy outlook for Florida consumers in December, say University of Florida economists.

GAINESVILLE — Among the Santa Clauses, mangers and Menorahs of retail and grocery store displays, colorful swatches of African cloth are becoming more common across the country.

GAINESVILLE — The apparent selflessness of holiday gift-giving is more likely to be a selfish ruse to make the presenter look thoughtful, considerate or loving, a new University of Florida study finds.

GAINESVILLE — Next year’s Atlantic hurricane season promises more storms – not a good prediction for South Florida, which still is paying for Andrew’s strike four years ago, said University of Florida professors.

GAINESVILLE—Consumers may see a decline in orange juice prices at their grocery stores this spring, just as citrus growers around the state feel the effects of this year’s bumper citrus crop.

GAINESVILLE — Strong consumer confidence may translate into good holiday sales for retailers, say University of Florida economists.

GAINESVILLE—A typical phone call in a typical day for Carol McLarty might be from a reporter wanting to know where Florida ranks in U.S. hog production.

GAINESVILLE — A comprehensive national retail industry survey released today reveals retailers lost $27 billion, or 1.87 percent of their total 1995 annual sales to a combination of employee and customer theft, administrative error and vendor fraud.

GAINESVILLE — Prestigious labels on brand-name clothes are so important to children that they jeopardize the success of much-touted school uniform policies, says a University of Florida researcher.

GAINESVILLE—Devaluation of the peso by the Mexican government is to blame for trade disadvantages that have hurt Florida’s vegetable growers for the past two years, according to University of Florida research.