As the US-Korea Trade Agreement starts today, will Florida’s export business grow and help the economy?

Francisco Sanchez | Tampa Tribune

Good news for Florida’s businesses: The U.S.-Korea Trade Agreement officially takes effect today. As a result, local firms have more opportunities to sell their goods and services in the 12th-largest economy in the world.

With jobs, income, and manufacturing on the rise, Florida’s economy seems to be gearing up for a strong quarter.

Lucia Mutikani | Sun Sentinel

A few months ago economists were all but certain the U.S. economy would slow sharply at the start of this year, with many warning that recession risks were growing.

Looking at other factor besides the unemployment rate may show a different ‘job growth’ picture within Florida. Read this article to see a different take on Florida’s economy.

Florida’s December jobs report was far short of an A, but at least the Sunshine State is now gaining jobs at a faster rate. Its scores No. 6 on hiring performance versus other states.

Two of Florida’s metropolitan areas plans for increasing their workforce in 2012 ranks on Forbes’ list for 2012.

Susan Adams | Forbes

Though Florida was hard hit by the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis, and unemployment in the state sits 1.5% above the national average at 10.1%, in the first quarter of 2012, employers in two of Florida’s metropolitan areas are planning to increase their workforces at a rate that outpaces every other metro area in the country, according to employment services firm Manpower Group’s latest employment outlook survey.

Jacksonville is starting to show postive economic indicators, while there is still contradicting data among other indicators.

Drew Dixon | The Florida Times-Union

Jacksonville’s unemployment rate dropped slightly in October and other economic indicators from last month show some nominal signs of optimism, but not much, according to figures released this week.

Recent article in the Miami Herald regarding the international interest in the Florida real estate markets…

“The absorption rate, especially in condos, has gone bananas,’’ said Veissi, who heads a South Miami real estate company.

International buyers, especially from South America, see “real value” in South Florida real estate, he said. Veissi expects international transactions will be even stronger in 2012. “This is an excellent time to be an investor or buyer in Southeast Florida,’’ he said.

There are those that are seeking to come out the recession on top. What are you going to do?

The pall cast over the global economy shows no sign of lifting anytime soon. The U.S. and Europe are mired in debt, experiencing the lowest levels of consumer confidence in decades, and a sharp slowdown in the global economy is predicted for 2012. In our own backyard, Florida continues to suffer from high mortgage defaults, foreclosures and joblessness above the national average.

Nevertheless, unaware to most, an exciting, positive, and transformational development is taking place— one that all of us should celebrate: Miami’s entrepreneurial renaissance.

Recent article and the growing Florida economy.

The Fed’s Philadelphia branch calculates economic indices for each state, and Florida’s has been growing since January. The streak continued in September, the Fed announced Tuesday, with Florida and 29 other states seeing a bump in their indices from August.

Read more about the strength in the Panama City market by clicking on the article below.

Chris Segal | News Herald

While the downturn in residential real estate sales grabs most of the public’s attention, driving past rows of empty commercial properties along thoroughfares like U.S. 98 serves as a reminder that the commercial real estate market also has seen tough times.

Here is a recent article regarding the multifamily market recovery in Palm Beach.

Florida Real Estate Journal

A recovering job market continues to support demand for rental housing in large properties in Palm Beach County, but rents continue to rise only modestly.