LABOR FORCE & UNEMPLOYMENT:
The Southwest Florida labor force grew by 6,319 persons or 0.9% in 2007. Unemployment in the region increase to 4.7% in 2007 compared to 3.2% in 2006. In 2006, the coastal counties experienced low unemployment rates, while the rural counties (Glades and Hendry) had high rates of unemployment that exceeded the state level; following the trend of preceding years. As a whole, however, the regional unemployment rate was higher than the state figure for the year.

AIRPORT PASSENGERS:
The number of regional airline passengers increased this past year. Southwest Florida International Airport experienced a 5.3% increase in the number of Airline passengers; Sarasota/Bradenton Airport reported an increase of 9.2%, while Naples Airport reported a decrease of 35.6%. As in the past years, passenger traffic peaked in the month of March, with more than 1,290,782 people traveling through Southwest Florida Airports.

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMITS:
The construction industry, a major sector of the Southwest Florida economy, recorded an annual decrease in the number of building permits issued last year; due to the recent slump in the housing market. The region experienced a 68.9% decrease in the number of single family permits issued and a 59.2% decrease in the number of multi-family permits issued in 2007. Overall, total regional dwelling unit permits decreased by 68.1%. The value of all reported residential permits decreased 59.1% from $6.9 billion in 2006 to $2.8 billion in 2007. The total value of all reported permit activity decreased 42.8% from $11.2 billion in 2006 to $6.4 billion in 2007

SALES ACTIVITY:
Regional gross and taxable sales decreased in 2007. Gross sales decreased 3.1%, from $52.2 billion in 2006 to $50.6 billion in 2007. Taxable sales totaled $27.9 billion in 2007; a decrease of 7.6% over 2006 taxable sales of $30.2 billion. Typically, the winter and spring months of December through May register the highest gross/taxable sales. January and April were the peak months for gross ($5.6 billion) and taxable ($2.9 billion) sales respectively.

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX:
The Consumer Price Index measures the cost of items in several specific categories and is used as an indicator of the general rate of inflation through time. Between 2006 and 2007, the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers, of the CPI-U, rose 2.9% from 201.6 to 207.3.