Lutgert Blogs

Regional Economic Indicators: March 2025 Report

March 03, 2025 / RERI Research Team

The RERI has published Regional Economic Indicators for March 2025. The monthly publication represents a collection and analysis of economic indicators including airport passenger activity, taxable sales, tourist tax revenues, labor force, employment, real estate, and consumer sentiment for the Southwest Florida workforce region.

Issue Brief: Holiday Shopping Trends in Southwest Florida

February 28, 2025 / RERI Research Team

The holiday shopping season is a critical period for retailers and local economies, often serving as a barometer for overall economic health and consumer confidence. Regions like Southwest Florida can be more prone to the effect of this season, as the area caters to snowbirds and other seasonal residents from across the world. Understanding the trends and patterns of previous years becomes valuable for businesses, policymakers, and consumers alike.

SWFL Real Estate: First Quarter 2025 Report

February 27, 2025 / RERI Research Team

The residential market in Southwest Florida continued to experience notable shifts during Q4 2024, reflecting ongoing adjustments in the post-pandemic and post-hurricane housing landscape, as evidenced by the latest data available. Single-family home sales in the region have come down over the past quarters and remain below their 2022 apex, with declines primarily concentrated in Collier and Lee counties. Single-family and condominium real median prices in the region also continued to fall, with declines observed across all Southwest Florida counties. The percentage of total housing units that were actively listed rose year-over-year in all counties.

Regional Economic Indicators: February 2025 Report

February 03, 2025 / RERI Research Team

The RERI has published Regional Economic Indicators for February 2025. The monthly publication represents a collection and analysis of economic indicators including airport passenger activity, taxable sales, tourist tax revenues, labor force, employment, real estate, and consumer sentiment for the Southwest Florida workforce region.

Charlotte EBCS: First Quarter 2025 Report

February 03, 2025 / RERI Research Team

Real GDP increased by 2.8 percent in 2024, driven by consumer spending in both goods and services and increases in investment, government spending, and net exports, continuing the growth trend in the last three years and aligned with the long-term growth rate experienced in the US. The nation’s unemployment rate declined from 4.2 percent in October to 4.1 percent in December 2024, staying within the range often considered “full employment” by economists. Consumer Sentiment also continued to rally, rising 3.9 points from September 2024 to 74.0 in December 2024. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) reported steady growth in small business sentiment, with its index reaching 105.1 in December, the highest number in the last 6 years.