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5 Big Stories: The Week in Business

A look back at the week's top stories.

By Jeff Harrington, Times Deputy Business Editor
Published December 16, 2007

1. Crunch time at the malls

Shoppers evolve from browsers to buyers as the last two weeks of the holiday shopping season kick in.

What it means: Retailers have been bracing for slower sales and kept inventory lean this season. For shoppers, that may mean fewer of the end-of-December discounts they've grown accustomed to in the annual cat-and-mouse game.

2. Nuclear power costs surge

Analysts have more than doubled the estimated price tag for building a nuke plant as competition for labor and raw material costs escalate.

What it means: Customers of Progress Energy could be paying billions of dollars more than anticipated if the St. Petersburg utility builds a new nuke plant in Levy County.

3. Fund probe heats up

The state launches an investigation into the troubled Local Government Fund and names longtime politico Bob Milligan as interim executive director.

What it means: Florida leaders are eager to shore up confidence after cities and other investors in the pool yanked billions of dollars out because the fund had invested in risky securities.

4. Florida: an appetizing market for restaurants

The restaurant industry predicts Florida will be third in the country in job growth over the next decade, trailing only Arizona and Nevada.

What it means: Amid the real estate crunch and belt-tightening in many industries, it's comforting to highlight where jobs are growing, even if they're not of the high-paying variety.

5. Busch Gardens' visitors can mingle with the animals

The Tampa theme park's new attraction, Jamba Junction, will let visitors interact with trained small animals.

What it means: Along with its $40-million Jungula attraction opening in April, the junction is the latest attempt to invigorate ticket sales in a highly competitive sector.

[Last modified December 14, 2007, 21:17:05]