Inflation Leader Florida Sees Some Relief as Rent Growth Abates

• Author: Alex O'Connell
• Posted: 2023-12-14

Floridians may finally find some respite from the soaring prices as rent growth shows signs of cooling in the Sunshine State.

According to a recent report, Tampa witnessed a significant drop of 1.5 percentage points in its inflation rate from the previous year, representing the most substantial decline among the twelve metropolitan areas reporting inflation data.

With housing costs being a major contributor to this moderation, it appears that Floridians may have reason to be cautiously optimistic about their financial outlook.
 

Housing Cooldown

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that shelter costs in Tampa rose by 8% in November compared to the previous year, marking the slowest growth in two years.

Similarly, Miami experienced its slowest rise in shelter prices since June 2022, with a 10.1% annual increase.

However, experts caution that BLS measurements tend to lag behind market data. In reality, new lease and apartment rents in major Florida markets, including Tampa, are either flat or even negative, as per Jay Parsons, the chief economist for RealPage, a rental industry software and analytics firm.

Parsons affirms, "Rents are cooling off fast. There's no doubt that peak rent inflation is well in the rearview mirror."
 

Construction Impact

The construction of new apartments has contributed to the cooling of rents in several of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. RealPage data reveals that cities such as Atlanta, Austin, and Phoenix have added at least 16,000 units in the past year, representing an increase in inventory of up to 5.6%.

This surge in supply has helped alleviate some of the pressure on rental prices, bringing relief to tenants.
 

Persistent Inflation Rate

Although the moderation in rent growth is encouraging, Florida cities still grapple with an above-average inflation rate.

In November, consumer prices nationwide increased by 3.1% compared to the previous year.

Tampa, Dallas, and San Diego tied for the highest inflation rates among the metro areas reporting in November. Miami topped the list in October with a rate of 7.4%.
 

Long-Term Relief

While the recent rental market cooldown provides a glimmer of hope, it will take more than a few months for meaningful relief to reach many Floridians.

Zillow's most recent rent index highlights that rents across property types in the Tampa area surged by 43% between October 2020 and October 2023. Similarly, metro Miami witnessed a staggering 51% increase, surpassing the national average of 29%.

Housing marketplace Zillow suggests that shelter costs have been a critical factor keeping overall inflation elevated in Florida metro areas.
 

Conclusion

As rent growth abates in Florida, residents can breathe a sigh of relief.

The significant cooldown in housing prices, combined with the construction of new apartments, brings hope for a more stabilized rental market.

Despite the persistently high inflation rate in Florida cities, signs of moderation provide optimism for consumers. However, it remains to be seen if the trend will continue and ultimately result in long-term relief for Floridians.