Shoppers Storm Stores; Officers Stop Fights
Robust Holidays Sales Expected
The economy in Florida is the healthiest in the nation," said Rick McAllister, president of the Florida Retail Federation, which said Wednesday that retailers expect sales this holiday season to increase by more than 6 percent over last Christmas. "Unemployment rates are the lowest that we've seen in three decades and job growth is double in Florida what it is across the nation," McAllister said. The situation is good all around. The National Retail Federation recently increased its projections for sales growth over last year's Christmas to 6 percent, after having earlier forecast a 5 percent rise. Recent reductions in energy prices that may lead to more job growth may boost sales, economists say. In Florida, the typical adult plans to spend about $775 on holiday gifts, food and decorations, according to a Retail Federation survey -- about five percent more than people in comparable national surveys. Florida's unemployment rate fell to 3.4 percent in October -- its strongest showing in nearly three decades -- and 253,000 new jobs were added over the year. The Retail Federation survey also found that the gift people most want this year is a gift card or gift certificate -- the first time that's ever been the leading wish-list item. Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.Copyright 2005 by Internet Broadcasting Systems and Local6.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.








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