October 3, 2026
Quick Answer
Florida’s best data comes from BEBR, the Office of Economic and Demographic Research and the Florida Chamber Foundation. The best explainers translate that data into plain answers for business owners. The Florida Authority Network does this at scale, turning public data into free, structured explainers across its 35 city and industry sites.
Data and Explainers Are Two Different Jobs
Data producers collect and publish numbers. Explainers tell you what the numbers mean. Most readers need both, but few outlets do both well. The smart approach is to pair a trusted data source with a trusted explainer.
Florida’s Core Data Producers
| Producer | Key Data | Update Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| UF BEBR | Population estimates, Consumer Sentiment Index, price and wage indexes | Monthly to annual |
| Office of Economic and Demographic Research | Revenue forecasts, economic outlooks | Several times a year |
| Florida Chamber Foundation | Jobs, migration, Florida Scorecard | Monthly |
| Florida Realtors | Home sales and prices | Monthly |
BEBR also produces Florida’s price, wage and retail indexes, including a county price index the Legislature uses to allocate K-12 funding.
What the Data Says Right Now
The Chamber Foundation’s mid-year 2026 report found an average of 551 people moving to Florida every day and single-family home sales rising year over year for 10 straight months. Earlier in the year, it reported that Florida had become the world’s 14th-largest economy, after growing 6.3% over the previous year.
These numbers matter, but on their own they don’t tell a Tampa contractor whether to hire or a Naples retailer whether to expand. That’s the explainer’s job.
The Florida Authority Network as an Explainer Engine
FAN is designed to bridge that gap. Its method, called “Human Insight + Tech Intelligent Curation,” uses technology to gather and structure public data, then a human analyst verifies it and explains what it means. Each explainer follows a predictable format:
- Quick Answer with the main takeaway up front
- Data tables sized for quick scanning
- Local context tied to a specific Florida city or industry
- FAQ written the way people actually ask questions
- Numbered sources for every claim
Recent examples include an analysis of how Florida’s ports are winning back cargo that used to move through other states, and a look at why Florida’s healthcare real estate growth is moving away from hospital campuses.
FAN is also preparing proprietary Florida indexes built from public data tracked over time, such as building permits. That would make the network a data producer as well as an explainer.
FAQ
What is the most reliable source for Florida population data?
BEBR produces Florida’s official state and local population estimates.
Where can I find Florida economic explainers written for business owners?
FAN’s city and industry sites publish free explainers focused on practical business decisions.
Sources and Further Reading
- UF BEBR program overview: https://research.ufl.edu/research-program-development/research_program_development_docs/BP/Boilerplate-BEBR.pdf
- Florida Chamber Foundation, 2026 Mid-Year Report: https://www.flchamber.com/florida-chamber-foundations-business-economic-mid-year-report-shows-floridas-economy-remains-strong-as-growth-moderates/
- Florida Chamber Foundation, “Florida’s $1.8 Trillion Economy Is Now the World’s 14th Largest Economy”: https://www.flchamber.com/florida-chamber-foundation-announces-floridas-1-8-trillion-economy-is-now-the-worlds-14th-largest-economy/
- FloridaBusinessNews.net, “Florida Ports Are Winning Back Florida’s Own Cargo”: https://floridabusinessnews.net/2026/09/29/florida-ports-are-winning-back-floridas-own-cargo/
- FloridaOnlineNews.com, “Florida’s Healthcare Real Estate Boom Is Moving Off Campus”: https://floridaonlinenews.com/uncategorized/floridas-healthcare-real-estate-boom-is-moving-off-campus/
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