INFLATION SLOWS DOWN THANKS TO LOW GAS PRICES
In the southeastern United States, including Florida, inflation slowed in January 2026 to 1.9% compared to the national average of 2.4%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is mainly due to the drop in gas prices: with an average of $2.86 per gallon for regular gas in Miami in January, this is a 20-cent drop in one year, according to the AAA (American Automobile Association). In Fort Lauderdale, it is 15 cents less per gallon, at an average of $2.88 for the same period. On the other hand, food prices continue to rise, particularly non-alcoholic beverages and meat, as well as restaurants and electricity.
However, these figures are not consistent across all southeastern states, and in Tampa in January, inflation was 2.3%. Figures for South Florida will be released next month. But this regional indicator points to a welcome cooling trend in inflation.
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RIP CURRENT ALERTS
Alerts are regularly issued by authorities to warn swimmers about rip currents. This was the case in late February for all of Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville and the Space Coast.
In the event of an alert, and more generally whenever swimming, swimmers should stay close to lifeguard stations, and if caught in a current, they should float on the surface and call for help, without trying to fight the current. Even good swimmers can be swept away, so caution is advised.
To identify a rip current and learn how to get out of it, see our annual guide Access Florida on page 58:
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PALANTIR, THE TECH GIANT, MOVES TO MIAMI
This $300 billion company has just announced that it has moved its headquarters to Magic City. It is now the largest publicly traded company with offices in South Florida, far ahead of NextEra Energy (renewable energy) and Royal Caribbean.
Palantir specializes in data analysis and artificial intelligence, and has collaborated with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) by sharing its technology with the federal government. Its offices in Denver have even been targeted by anti-ICE protesters. It has also worked with the U.S. military and intelligence services.
The company is growing rapidly and reported revenue of $1.4 billion in the last reported quarter, as well as a profit margin of 41%.
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BILL IN FAVOR OF NUCLEAR POWER
According to the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC), 73% of Florida’s electricity comes from natural gas plants, 11% from nuclear power, 7% from renewable energy, and 5% from coal. Monique Miller, Republican representative from Palm Bay, supports a bill that would accelerate the development of advanced nuclear reactors (ANRs). For now, the bill aims to commission several state agencies to create certified research laboratories, and has already been approved by the budget committee. ANR technology has not yet been implemented in the United States, although such a reactor is currently under construction in Tennessee.
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THE IMPACT OF FLORIDA HOSPITALS ON THE ECONOMY
According to a University of Florida study for the Florida Hospital Association, Florida hospitals contribute $198 billion to the state’s economy and generate an ecosystem of 977,000 jobs. This represents 6.6% of Florida’s GDP, underscoring the industry’s leading role in the Sunshine State’s economy.
