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| The December 2025 edition of Florida By The Numbers is now available. Florida Chamber Foundation Senior Research Economist Sheridan Morby walks us through Florida’s rise to the 15th largest economy in the world, population growth, labor market trends, housing activity, and what recent interest rate decisions mean for Florida businesses as we continue momentum toward becoming a top 10 global economy. |
Some of the metrics in this update include:
- Global Competitiveness and Growth Outlook:
- Florida has risen to the 15th largest economy in the world if it were a country, surpassing Spain since the last Florida By The Numbers release.
- Florida is now within reach of #14 Australia and would need to grow by just 1.5 percent to move ahead. Florida’s economy grew by more than 6 percent over the past year.
- Population Growth Outlook:
- Florida is projected to add 2.5 million net new residents by 2030 as the state continues to grow and attract talent.
- More than half of these new residents will be in just 10 counties, largely in Florida’s largest metro areas.
- Several smaller counties are projected to see some of the fastest growth rates, including Sumter, Walton, Santa Rosa, and Flagler counties.
- Labor Market Outlook:
- Florida’s labor market continues to expand, adding nearly 67,000 jobs over the past year.
- Florida’s workforce is larger than the total population of 40 US states and continues to be a major contributor to national job growth.
- Housing Market Outlook:
- Florida’s housing market is seeing increased activity, with existing home sales up 13.8 percent compared to this time last year and pending sales up 23 percent.
- Lower mortgage rates are expected to help sustain increased sales activity, though housing affordability remains an ongoing focus for Florida leaders.
- Inflation and Interest Rates Outlook:
- The Federal Reserve has announced another quarter-point interest rate cut, marking the third rate reduction of the year.
- National inflation currently stands at 3.0 percent, meaning prices remain higher than one year ago.
Additional metrics and more are found on TheFloridaScorecard.org.
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Register Today for Our Upcoming Solution Summit Focused on Securing Florida's Future!
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The Florida Chamber Foundation is preparing to hold its annual 2026 Florida Economic Outlook & Jobs Solution Summit, a virtual event taking place on January 29, 2026, from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm ET. The Solution Summit will provide in-depth insight into what Florida businesses can expect in the year ahead, with perspectives on the national economy, Florida’s housing market, key industries including manufacturing and health care, and voices from national, local, and rural Florida communities.
At the summit, the Florida Chamber Foundation will also unveil its highly anticipated 2026 Florida Economic Forecast, providing business leaders with the latest business and economic insights to guide planning and growth in the year ahead.
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Thank You to Our Community Development Partnership Council for Driving the Research that is Securing Florida's Future!
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| Ready to make an impact on the future of Florida? Join our Community Development Partnership Council of forward-thinking business leaders with a deeply vested interest in our state’s success. Visit our website to learn more, and contact our Vice President of Research, Dr. Keith Richard, to get engaged. |
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