PANAMA CITY – The holiday season is in full swing, but COVID-19 has already ruined Shaun Gaiser’s chance of celebrating.
For the Panama City Beach resident, the only tension other people deserve to feel during the holidays is buying gifts and making travel plans, not looking for a different lifestyle to suit social esttching rules and mask guarantees.
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“Everything is a little volatile right now,” Gaiser said Thursday while pumping gasoline to the Dodges in Panama City. “Personally, I like that (COVID-19) it has taken away much of my freedom. “
His resolve not to make it to this year is a resolution that many other people will likely percentageize despite the lower-than-normal gas costs reported in the state, said Mark Jenkins, AAA’s spokesman for Florida.
On Friday, the average value of a gallon of gasoline in Bay County is $2. 08, just $0. 047 above the state average and $0. 033 less than the national average.
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Jenkins said the costs seem to be “increasing” right now, driven by the announcement that a coronavirus vaccine may be imminent, are still not close to what they were in January, and did not expect them to be. aim soon. From January to May, the pandemic caused costs to fall from about $2. 50 consistent with the gallon to $1. 75.
“When there is optimism about the launch of a vaccine on the market, it means that there is optimism that fuel demand will nevertheless return to what it was in recent years,” Jenkins said.
“I think there’s still a lot of uncertainty right now about how temporarily things could get back to normal, or even whether they’ll be back to normal soon. “
Along with less economic strain caused by the virus, other people are likely to spend less on stores this holiday season, according to a Florida Retail Federation press release.
The organization is a state-round industry agreement representing retailers, which provide about 25% of all jobs in Florida. Retailers also pay about $50 billion in annual wages and are guilty of more than $20 billion in sales taxes, he added.
According to a recent study by the group, Florida consumers are expected to spend about $1,000 each on this holiday season, about $50 less than last year. Approximately 20% of all retail purchases across the state are made in November and December.
The organization attributed the decline in spending to “consumer reluctance to take advantage of promotional sales this season to purchase non-gift pieces, but possibly for themselves or their families. “
The launch came in reaction to a new public awareness crusade called “Find It in Florida,” which encourages Florinos to buy this holiday season to help businesses stay afloat.
“This has been an incredibly difficult year for many, especially Florida retailers, and the Holiday grocery shopping season is very important for its survival,” Scott Shalley, the group’s president and CEO, said in the statement. here in the sunshine, Florida jobs, families and florida economy.