Florida Now Has Highest Inflation Rate in US Amid Labor Crisis After Driving Immigrants Out

Despite its governor touting Florida's economy as he runs for the presidency, the Sunshine State now has the highest inflation rate in the country. This comes as Florida faces a labor crisis after a new Ron DeSantis-backed law drives away immigrants and tourists.

Florida is now regarded as America's inflation hotspot, with a persistent problem of sky-high housing costs being mainly to blame. According to Patch, the latest Consumer Price Index was released last Monday, and it showed that Florida is experiencing the highest amount of inflation in the country.

Florida Inflation Is Sky-High

Currently, the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach area has the highest inflation rate among metro areas that have more than 2.5 million residents - 9% for the last 12 months.

CBS News pointed out that Florida's inflation rate is more than double the national average of 4%.

It is not just the Miami metro area that is suffering sky-high inflation either, as the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro also had the third-highest inflation rate in the country, which was measured at 7.3% for the year.

Compared to some areas with the lowest inflation rates, Minneapolis had an inflation rate of 1.8% in May. This is considered the lowest in the country. Meanwhile, urban Hawaii has the second lowest inflation rate at 2%.

Amanda Phalin, an economist at the University of Florida, spoke with CBS News and stated that the state's growing population has been pushing up inflation. However, this is also pushing up housing costs, which in turn is also pushing other prices to skyrocket. While many move to Florida for the lower tax rates, inflation is making prices in the state higher than in other places.

Florida Now Feeling Effects of Labor Shortage Due to Ron DeSantis Immigration Law

While Florida is facing high inflation rates, the state's economy might also take another hit thanks to the controversial immigration law that took effect earlier this month. That law has driven many immigrants out of the state, leaving many businesses without labor as they try to find workers that would do jobs that most US citizens usually don't want to do.

The new law required employers with over 25 employees to use the E-Verify system to check their workers' immigration status and hospitals to ask patients if they are in the country legally. However, before the law even came into effect, immigrants all over Florida abandoned their jobs, leaving farms, construction sites, and other areas empty.

Bipartisan immigration reform group American Businesses Immigration Coalition slammed the law, saying that Florida's economic growth will be hurt.

The group's Samuel Vilchez Santiago told Local 10 News, "We simply don't have the labor force we need in order to continue growing economically."

Many of the state's undocumented workers were employed in the hospitality industry, construction, and agriculture. These same industries, which have so far fueled the state's economic growth, are also the ones suffering the most.

Albert Williams, an economist with Nova Southeastern University, agreed with the sentiment, adding, "People are getting scared to work."

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Floridians already feeling economic effect of DeSantis immigration law - MSNBC