SOUTH FLORIDA | ECONOMY

Construction spending finally in a tiny rebound

Construction spending in Florida is finally in a tiny rebound. The bad news: Housing permits are still 80 percent off their peaks.

ECONOMIC TIME MACHINE

Hotel comeback hits a December plateau

December brought another record for hotel tax collections in Miami-Dade, but the roaring growth of 2011 may be tapering off.

ECONOMY

Share haiku on an economic theme

Two years ago, Business Monday asked readers to use the Japanese poetry form haiku to express themselves. Now we’re asking for new submissions.

ECONOMIC TIME MACHINE

Local government jobs holding steady

South Florida’s public payrolls had a better recession than the private sector did, though the pressure is on as government budgets get squeezed.

BANKING

BankUnited reports strong earnings

BankUnited reported higher fourth-quarter earnings as it refocuses its strategy to stay independent

SOUTH FLORIDA STOCKS

South Florida bellwether companies took wild rides in 2011

It was a year of wild drama for the stock market that didn’t amount to much. South Florida’s largest companies got caught up in the storylines, too.

ECONOMY

Consumer confidence jumps in December

Buoyed by big-ticket buying plans and expectations for a better economic future, consumer confidence rose in Florida and the nation.

Brazil

Brazil’s economy slows

However, recent measures could put the economy of South Florida’s largest trading partner back on the growth track by the second quarter of 2012.

Entrepreneurs

South Florida startup leaders join talks at White House

As part of the Startup America program announced by President Barack Obama in January, five entrepreneurs, along with groups from other states, discussed challenges and opportunities.

ECONOMY

In the economic race, Miami-Dade at back of pack

A consultant’s report describes how badly Miami-Dade County trails its peers when it comes to economic competitiveness.

Q&A

John Kanas optimistic about BankUnited’s new incarnation

John Kanas is helping BankUnited push aggressively into commercial banking and expand in Florida and New York.

SEC charges Morgan Stanley Investment Management with violations

The Securities and Exchange Commission said Wednesday that it charged Morgan Stanley Investment Management with violating securities laws in a fee arrangement that repeatedly charged a fund and its investors for advisory services they weren’t actually receiving from a third party.

BANKING

Analysts say European recession likely

Some 1,800 bankers from around the world gathered in Miami for the 45th FELABAN Annual Assembly. They discussed everything from the global economy to banking inclusion

TRADE

Florida’s economy faces ‘moderate’ risk from European recession

Florida would fare better than many states should Europe slip into recession, a new study found.

Economists say Obama plan would create jobs, but ...

Could it work? That's the question being asked about President Barack Obama's big new jobs plan. Independent experts answered Friday with a qualified yes.

S&P cuts U.S. debt rating, cites 'weakening' of policy making

Credit rating agency Standard & Poor's downgraded the AAA credit rating the United States has enjoyed for 70 years late Friday night in a move that had been expected, but still left the Obama administration angry and combative. S&P said the debt-ceiling deal didn't do enough to trim the deficit and showed that U.S. political institutions were not effective in dealing with the economy and the deficit.

Cut federal debt, Americans say, even if that slows economy

Despite lingering anxiety over the Great Recession, Americans by a large margin want their federal government to focus more on cutting debt than on increasing spending even temporarily to boost the economy, according to a new McClatchy-Marist poll.

ECONOMY

Jobless claims rise to highest level in 9 months

Employers appear to be laying off workers again as the economic recovery weakens. The number of people applying for unemployment benefits reached the half-million mark last week for the first time since November.

SPRING BREAK

Signs of a spring break rebound: busy body piercers

It's an economy gone wild when Spring Break arrives, as breakfast traffic plunges but nightclub lines lengthen. Signs of a rebound? Check for pierced tongues.