Things To Do In SW Florida

Holiday spending was expected to be tempered this year but the latest data shows Americans aren’t slowing down, even with growing debt.

The National Retail Federation said nearly 203 million U.S. shoppers went to retail stores and websites from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday — its highest in nearly nine years.

Some experts have expressed concern about growing credit card debt and burdens from other factors. U.S. household debt reached $18.59 trillion as of September, said the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, a record high.

Just how bad the debt situation is for the economy is up for debate. Some economists have argued the overall economy is still strong. They point to low unemployment as a reason why debts will be paid because money is still coming in.

Question: Are Americans’ household debt levels a major concern for the economy?

Economists

Caroline Freund, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy

YES: Household debt is a concern, especially as delinquency rates rise. Credit card and auto loan delinquencies are climbing to levels not seen since the Great Financial Crisis. The strain is concentrated among lower income households, reflecting the K-shaped economy, where the most vulnerable are falling behind. Delinquencies on big ticket items like cars are increasing especially rapidly among this group. With the job market becoming less certain, these trends point to growing economic risk. read more

By MICHELLE CHAPMAN, AP Business Writer

Shares of major U.S. companies in the energy sector are sharply higher Monday after President Donald Trump announced plans to take control of Venezuela’s oil industry, saying that it would be American companies helping to revitalize it following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.

While the U.S. action is unlikely to have an immediate impact on crude prices given the current glut in the market, it could upend energy markets and have an impact on the geopolitical landscape.

The shale oil revolution made the U.S. the world’s largest crude producer. Recent, massive oil finds off the coast of Guyana are largely controlled by ExxonMobil and Chevron. U.S. control of the Venezuelan energy industry, which sits on the world’s largest oil reserves, could “reshape the balance of power in international energy markets,” analysts with JP Morgan wrote Monday.

“The combined total could position the US as a leading holder of global oil reserves, potentially accounting for about 30% of the world’s total if these figures are consolidated under US influence,” JP Morgan wrote. “This would mark a notable shift in global energy dynamics.” read more

By ELAINE KURTENBACH, Associated Press

BANGKOK (AP) — Oil prices fell back Monday while the prices of precious metals surged as markets reacted calmly to the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a weekend raid.

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Asian shares rallied on heavy buying of tech-related stocks after modest gains Friday on Wall Street. The future for the S&P 500 was up 0.2% while that for the Dow Jones Industrial Average was virtually unchanged.

In early European trading, Germany’s DAX was up 0.8% at 24,728.94, while the CAC 40 in Paris picked up 0.3% to 8,216.98. Britain’s FTSE 100 edged 0.2% higher, to 9,968.71. read more

After 1,700 restaurant inspections across Central Florida in December, 256 had no issues for the entire month, according to data from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Orange and Brevard tied for the highest percentage of restaurants with zero violations during routine food inspections at 17.6% with Lake County just behind at 17.4%, then Seminole in fourth with 12.9%.

Volusia and Osceola ranked at the bottom with 8.6% and 5.5%, respectively.

Orange County had the most restaurants with no violations at 139 out of 789 inspected. Brevard followed with 49 out of 278, then Seminole with 22 out of 171, Lake with 19 out of 109, Volusia with 18 out of 209 and Osceola with nine out of 165.

BREVARD

MC Avenue 16, 2241 Town Center Ave., Melbourne
Anderson Vending Inc., I-95 Northbound Rest Area, Mile Marker 168, Malabar
Bella Sicilia Cafe LLC, 85 Merritt Ave., Merritt Island
Brano’s Italian Grill, 3680 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach
Brown Sugar & Honey Bakery, 3280 Suntree Blvd. Suite 105, Melbourne
Bugnutty Brewing Company, 225 King St., Unit B, Cocoa
Burger King, 8939 Astronaut Blvd., Cape Canaveral
Calvin Kitchen on Wheels, 710 King St., Unit 115, Cocoa
Caribbean Cove Restaurant & Lounge, 582 W. King St., Cocoa
Chick-Fil-A, 8300 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne
Chicken Salad Chick, 1301 S. Babcock St., Melbourne
Chipotle Mexican Grill, 2322 Harnett Dr., Melbourne
Coa Steakhouse, 65 N. Atlantic Ave., Units 1-3, Cocoa Beach
Doc’s Smokehouse, 2191 US Hwy 1, Titusville
Dueling Chefs Smoke N. Grille, 688 S. Park Ave., Titusville
El Platanito, 1360 US Hwy 1, Vin 5051, Palm Bay
El Pueblo Magico Mexican Restaurant, 2137 N. Courtenay Parkway, Merritt Island
Fresh Wingz & Thingz, 3280 Suntree Blvd. Suite 105, Vin 8034, Melbourne
Fujiyama Steak House Inc., 5000 N. Wickham Road, Suite 111, Melbourne
Hampton Inn Melbourne Viera, 130 Sheriff Dr., Melbourne
Harris Bldg C, 1025 W. Nasa Blvd., Melbourne
Hurricane Bingo, 5015 Babcock St. NE, Palm Bay
Ice Cream Hut Cocoa Beach South, 1399 N. Atlantic Ave., Unit 102, Cocoa Beach
Ice Cream Hut of Palm Bay, 4870 Babcock St. NE, #3, Palm Bay
Ice Cream, I-95 Southbound Rest Area, Mile Marker 170, Malabar
Jimmy Johns, 760 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne
Long Island Bagels, 5410 Murrell Road, Suite 201, Rockledge
Mangia E. Bevi Pizzeria Napoletana, 218 W. Cocoa Beach Causeway, Cocoa Beach
McDonald’s #11162, 8280 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne
MNJ’s, 660 Tucker Lane, Cocoa
Moo’s Soft Serve, 930 N. SR A1A, Indialantic
Natures Table Cafe, 7640 N. Wickham Road, Suite 120, Melbourne
Nunzi’s Wood-Fired Cuisine, 3280 Suntree Blvd., Suite 105, Melbourne
Pizzavola Express, 910 Barton Blvd., Unit 1, Rockledge
Playa Bowls Viera, 2261 Town Center Ave., Unit 141, Melbourne
Red Wagon Doggs, 413 Clearlake Road, Cocoa
Salty Bagel And Grill, 7630 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne
Sizzlin Smoke, 474 King St., Cocoa
Sodexo @ Harris – John Rodes, 407 John Rodes Blvd., Melbourne
Sofresh, 5380 Stadium Parkway, Unit 103, Rockledge
Suntree Country Club Snack Bar, One Country Club Dr., Melbourne
The Hangry Spartan, LLC, 124 Sedgewood Circle, West Melbourne
The Health Bar, 1543 W. New Haven Blvd., Melbourne
The Mermaid House Cafe & Wine Bar, 1080 E. Eau Gallie Blvd., Indian Harbour Beach
The Wet Spot, 3650 Dixie Highway NE, Palm Bay
Trattoria Bella, 2155 Palm Bay Road NE, Unit 1, Palm Bay
Tropical Smoothie Cafe, 700 Merritt Island Causeway E, Merritt Island
Wendy’s 7959, 4150 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne
Wonder Waffel, 2263 W. New Haven Ave., Unit 2263, Melbourne read more

Amy C. Arnott of Morningstar

I recently dug into the pros and cons of dividend reinvestment. Readers of the article sent me questions about other dividend-related topics. Here are some of the most common questions I got:

What should I know about reinvested dividends and wash sales?

Reinvesting dividends means purchasing additional shares, which can complicate sales or tax-loss harvesting in taxable accounts. The IRS’ wash-sale rules prohibit claiming a tax loss after a sale if you’ve purchased the same or “substantially identical” security 30 days before or after selling. You could wait at least 30 days after a dividend before selling, and make sure to sell at least 30 days before the next dividend, but to reduce hassle, it’s probably best not to reinvest dividends for holdings that you plan to sell soon.

If I reinvest dividends, will I end up with fractional shares that are difficult to sell?

Reinvesting dividends typically means purchasing small amounts that get added to your existing stock/fund position. You’ll probably end up with fractional shares, where you own only part of a share. Most major brokerages let you sell fractional shares, but you typically need to sell fractional shares as a market order, and liquidating fractional shares may take an additional day. read more