Recession and poor housing market mean fewer Floridians

Florida actually saw its population decline this year – that’s the first time that’s happened in over 50 years. The University of Florida’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research said Florida lost nearly 60 thousand in the year to April. The last time that happened is after military personnel left the Sunshine State after World War 2. Researchers say the population fell because of the recession and Florida’s housing market bust – they feel rising property taxes, increased homeowner insurance costs and competition for retirees from other states will slow population growth in coming years.