VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – As spring break continues in Central Florida, vacationers are finding that increased restrictions are not the only thing changing this year.
Prices for meals, coffee, apparel, and parking are adding to the squeeze on visitors.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics found the cost of a full-service meal is up 4.6 percent from last year, and the price of a morning cup of coffee rose 18.4 percent.
“I paid a total with food, so I didn’t really notice what each individual thing was, but it seemed like it might have been up a little bit,” David Boiano said about his morning trip to get coffee.
Apparel prices are up about 2.5 percent, while alcohol at bars and restaurants costs more than 3 percent more than a year ago.
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Boiano and Erick Young were stopping by Daytona Beach on the way to Jacksonville when they heard the numbers.
“I mean, budgeted accordingly. So I’m not sure there, now I’m all like, is it like crazy expensive or what’s the deal?” Young said.
Even parking has gone up. While Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach both have pay-to-park lots, Volusia County now charges $20 for nonresident parking in 60 county-operated lots.
First-time spring breakers said they felt the pinch.
“It’s a lot cheaper in New Jersey. I think,” Chole Mattus said.
“Yeah. I would have to say the same thing, especially for, like, food and like drinks for sure,” Ava Marian said.
Mattus said her group has been buying cheaper meals at convenience stores to avoid higher prices.
“We just, we go to 7-Eleven pretty often and just get dinner there,” she said.