Florida News That Impacts You – August 17th, 2023
Bottom Line: Your daily recap of the biggest news from around the state that impacts you in South Florida.
- Florida’s international tourism has reached its highest levels since prior to the pandemic and Florida is set to lead the country in international tourism for a 3rd consecutive year. This is according to the latest data from Visit Florida which shows international tourism recovering to 80% of levels achieved prior to the pandemic (no other state has recovered more than 75%). Combined with domestic tourism, Florida had a record number of visitors for the first half of the year, exceeding last year’s record levels by 1.3%.
- German based grocer Aldi, which currently has 210 locations across Florida, has reached a deal to buy all of Jacksonville based Southern Grocers, Winn-Dixie and Harvey’s supermarkets. Winn-Dixie has over 300 current locations in Florida which will be more than double Aldi’s footprint in the state should the deal go through as expected in the first half of next year. Aldi intends to convert many Winn-Dixie locations into Aldi-branded stores.
- In another sign of a recovering property insurance market, Florida’s set to gain a new insurer. Texas-based Mainsail Insurance Company has filed with the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation to begin the process enabling them to underwrite policies within the state.
- Gas prices rose by a penny Wednesday. Statewide the average price for regular unleaded is currently $3.85 per gallon – 7 cents higher than a week ago. In Palm Beach County the average price is $3.98 per gallon, which is the highest price in the state and a new high for the year.