Remember frugal Florida? It’s disappearing fast. Household spending jumped 5% Florida this past year, the biggest surge in the United States, according to government data released Tuesday morning. The next-highest increases came in Oregon and Colorado, both up 4.9 %.
Household spending in Florida has jumped
Across all states and the District of Columbia, average household spending was $38,196 in 2015, ranging from a high of $49,717 in Massachusetts to the low of $29,330 in Mississippi. Regardless of the increase, Florida’s per person spending remained slightly below the national average, totaling $37,020.
Florida’s latest spending surge was tied to some extent to how much more expensive it is getting to put and keep a roof over your head in the Sunshine State.
Expenses for housing and utilities jumped 5.9 % in Florida last year to $7,018, tied with Colorado for second-biggest boost in the country behind North Dakota.
Nationally, costs for housing and utilities rose 4.2% last year.
In 2014, Florida’s consumer spending actually grew at a faster pace – 5.4% – but growth was faster two years ago all over the country.