Florida kindergarten pupils have turned in the best overall results yet on screening tests in the four years since they began. ...more

December 22, 2008 |

The employment rate continues to rise in Highlands County, according to the Agency for Workforce Innovation. ...more

December 21, 2008 |

If you're moving slowly on your shopping this holiday season, you're not alone. Most people are less than half-finished, a new survey says. ...more

December 17, 2008 |

Mortgage application volume more than doubled during the shortened Thanksgiving week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's weekly application survey. ...more

December 4, 2008 |

Holiday deals may be hot, but retailers can still expect the worst Black Friday since the early 1970s, according to a University of Central Florida economist. ...more

November 27, 2008 |

TAMPA The holiday deals may be hot, but that won't be enough to convince consumers to spend like retailers hope they will, according to a University of Central Florida economist. This week's Black Friday will be a disappointing one for the retail industry, as overall consumer spending continues its downward slide this quarter. This rate of decline has not been seen in Florida since 1974, said economist Sean Snaith. ...more

November 26, 2008 |

The government said Tuesday that it will deploy up to $800 billion to make it cheaper for Americans to get a home mortgage, take out a car loan or borrow money through a credit card, as the government's intervention in the financial system expands to directly address the impact of the credit crisis on consumers. ...more

November 26, 2008 |

Hernando County's graduation rate crept up during the 2007-08 school year to 76.9 percent. ...more

November 20, 2008 |

New figures from the state Department of Education indicate more students are graduating from high school and fewer are dropping out. ...more

November 19, 2008 |

Already up to their eyeballs in debt, shoppers are expected to use cash and debit cards slightly more often than last year to buy holiday gifts, but credit card usage should fall. ...more

November 17, 2008 |