Gas prices lead drop in consumer index

Just a glance at any gas station will tell Floridians what the Bureau of Labor Statistics appeared to confirm last week: Gas prices have dropped significantly in the South.

In its monthly Consumer Price Index report, which measures change in prices for various goods and services, the department announced a drop of 9 percent in transportation costs yearover-year in the region.

This likely reflects a drop in gas prices during that same time period.

A quick check of area gas stations on the tracking website Gas Buddy on Tuesday showed a number of Central Florida locations selling regular gas for about $1.90 per gallon.

The transportation category takes into account changes in airfare, new vehicle prices and insurance rates, along with gasoline prices.

But as transportation has dipped, other categories have increased.

For instance, the same time period saw a 2.1 percent increase in housing, which includes rent and bedroom furniture, and 1.7 percent increase in food and beverage prices.

The overall consumer price index dropped 0.1 percent during the year.

The consumer price index uses data gathered from about 23,000 retailers in 87 urban areas across the U.S.

Survey: Holiday shoppers anxious

The season of giving has become a season of personal debt and anxiety.

An Experian survey released last week found that more than half of consumers feel stressed about finances during the holidays, as they try to find that perfect gift for friends and family.

It also found a potential cause for that stress: onequarter of respondents say they expect to go further in debt by charging gifts.

Experian releases the survey every holiday season and asked more than 1,000 people online about their shopping habits.

One topic on many people’s minds is identity theft, and more so in the minds of young shoppers than others.

Among millennials, 57 percent say they worry about identity theft. Meanwhile, 50 percent of all consumers overall have the same concern.

The growth in concern comes as consumers get regularly hit with stories about data breaches.

And the more they shop online, the more their concern grows.

Thirty percent of all consumers and 42 percent of millennials say they feel their risk increases while shopping online.

Small biz owners’ confidence up

As consumers fret, small business owners say a better year is ahead in 2016, according to a Bank of America survey.

Fifty-six percent of small business owners are confident in the national economy, a jump from 45 percent last year and 41 percent in 2013.

That trend was mirrored in local economy confidence. Overall, 62 percent say they feel confident in their local economy next year.

The numbers were even higher for millennials, with 62 percent expressing confidence.

msantana@orlandosentinel .com or 407-420-5256; Twitter @marcosantana