Consumer confidence in Florida has hit its lowest level since October 2005

Consumer confidence in Florida has hit its lowest level since October 2005. The Bureau of Economic and Business Research (BEBR) reports.

"Consumers in Florida are growing much more pessimistic about the economy and their finances," noted Chris McCarty, director of the Survey Research Center at UF's Bureau of Economic and Business Research. "A gallon of gas in Florida has risen more than 13 cents in the past week and 26 cents compared with the same time a year ago."

However, nationally, consumer confidence bounced back unexpectedly in May, to 108.0 from a revised score of 106.3 in April, according to The Conference Board, a private research group.