Things To Do In SW Florida

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER, AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Inflation picked up last month and consumers barely raised their spending, signs that the economy was already cooling even before most tariffs were imposed.

Friday’s report from the Commerce Department showed that consumer prices increased 2.5% in February from a year earlier, matching January’s annual pace. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core prices rose 2.8% compared with a year ago, higher than January’s figure of 2.7%.

Economists watch core prices because they are typically a better guide of where inflation is headed. The core index has barely changed in the past year. Inflation remains above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target, making it difficult for the central bank to cut its key interest rate anytime soon.

The report also showed that consumer spending rebounded last month after falling by the most in four years in January. Yet much of the additional spending reflected price increases, with inflation-adjusted spending barely rising. The weak figure suggests growth is rapidly slowing in the first three months of this year as consumers and businesses turn cautious amid sharp changes in government policies. read more

By VANESSA GERA and KERSTIN SOPKE, Associated Press

SCHOENEICHE, Germany (AP) — The U.S. government is on a global egg hunt, seeking exports from countries in Europe and elsewhere to ease a severe shortage that has caused egg prices at grocery stores to hit record highs.

Germany, Italy, Poland and Sweden are among the nations the U.S. Department of Agriculture approached to address the shortage brought on by a bird flu outbreak, according to European industry groups.

But supplying Americans with eggs would be complicated for foreign producers — and not because of political tensions over the myriad import tariffs President Donald Trump has imposed or threatened to impose on his nation’s top trading partners.

Even if they were eager to share, European countries don’t have many surplus eggs because of their own avian flu outbreaks and the growing domestic demand ahead of Easter.

One of the biggest obstacles, however, is the approach the United States takes to preventing salmonella contamination. U.S. food safety regulations require fresh eggs to be sanitized and refrigerated before they reach shoppers; in the European Union, safety standards call for Grade A eggs to be sold unwashed and without extended chilling. read more

Aquatica, SeaWorld Orlando’s water park, is gearing up its springtime event named Aloha to Summer Celebration.

The programming will include sand-castle artists, a family-friendly dance party and games such as cornhole and ring toss (with prizes), all preceded by a welcome celebration with leis and tropical punch.

Aloha to Summer eats will include limited-time island-inspired options such as teriyaki pineapple burgers and ponzu pork dumplings. There’s also a new Tex-Mex menu at the water park’s Kookaburra Kitchen plus tropical sweets such as Hawaiian crumble Dippin’ Dots.

Disney to shut down Buzz Lightyear ride and give it a new spin

The festivities, included with regular Aquatica admission, will be available on Saturdays and Sundays between March 29 and May 11. The park’s usual array of slides, lazy rivers and splash areas also will be in operation.

Once Aloha to Summer wraps up, Aquatica will say hello to AquaGlow, its after-hours, neon-driven, separately ticketed event.

For more information, go to aquatica.com. read more

By Holden Lewis, NerdWallet

Want to be a successful home buyer this spring and summer? Act decisively and swiftly, whether your market is hot or cool.

That’s the advice from real estate agents in Boston (a hot, fast-selling market where buyers tussle over scarce houses) and in Dallas (a cooler, slower-selling market where competition isn’t so frenzied).

We’re entering the time of year when the sales pace picks up even in sedate housing markets. Around 4 million existing homes will be sold in 2025, and roughly half of them will change hands from April through August.

In the five years since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, demand has exceeded supply in most housing markets. That imbalance still exists in the hotter markets of New England, the Upper Midwest and much of California. The shortfall has eased (but not gone away) in some cities, notably in Florida, Texas, the Gulf coast and the Pacific Northwest — those are the cooler markets.

Real estate agents’ advice this homebuying season is consistent, no matter the temperature of the local market: Treat the search like a job. Get preapproved for a mortgage. read more