There seems to be a gap between what the Bureau of Labor Statistics in Washington depicts and what families in our community actually experience. Ask any South Florida family what they’re spending on groceries or insurance, and they’ll tell you the numbers don’t match what is being reported. According to the Bureau, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose just 2.5% over the past year, which may seem negligible, yet families are seeing massive spikes in their grocery bills and they are feeling squeezed from the forces raising their costs for basic needs.
More than half of Miami-Dade households fall below what is needed for basic necessities, while in Broward, half of residents live under financial stress thresholds. Floridians struggle to pay for basic essentials such as rent, food and transportation. Grocery bills have jumped 20% in the past two years.
For nearly two decades, South Florida families have faced mounting affordability challenges despite national policy shifts. South Florida families don’t need more promises, they need results. The cost of housing, insurance, food and utilities keeps climbing, and it’s time for leadership that makes life more affordable in real, tangible ways. That’s why I’m running for Congress.
Housing inflation isn’t the same everywhere, but here in Florida, it remains one of the biggest obstacles to affordability. After the pandemic boom sent prices soaring, the real estate market has cooled, but not in a way that helps families. Home prices are still elevated, while construction activity and jobs tied to housing are slowing. That leaves South Florida families stuck: Costs keep rising, but opportunities are shrinking.
For retirees, the squeeze is even harsher. More than 18% of Miami-Dade residents are 65 or older, many living on fixed incomes. Instead of enjoying their retirement, too many seniors now watch every dollar just to survive. They can’t reenter the workforce, and they face the same rising bills as everyone else. Speaking with small business owners and other members of the community, I can see that they can feel the squeeze.
West Palm Beach ranks among the cities hit hardest by inflation in our region, with costs for gas, rent and dining all up more than 2% year over year. But perhaps the most punishing cost of all is property insurance. Florida already has the highest average premium in the nation, and here in South Florida, those premiums can double or triple in a single year. What used to represent stability — owning a home — now feels like financial risk. That’s not how the American dream should look. Florida families could see premiums jump by as much as 41%, a reminder that the underlying cost pressures facing South Florida families are still unresolved. For families across Broward and Miami-Dade, relief will only come when policies tackle these costs head-on.
Policymakers and out-of-touch politicians may congratulate themselves when the CPI ticks down a fraction of a point, but for South Florida families, that doesn’t help with rent or insurance bills. While there is some progress, families in South Florida aren’t feeling the good news. Leaders in Washington need to look beyond the statistics and address the realities individuals face.
To address the real concerns of citizens, we have to first look at Florida’s slow and burdensome permitting process. Florida ranks among the most regulated states for land-use and permitting, where delays and discretionary reviews routinely force builders to negotiate, adding thousands of dollars and months of delay to the cost of each new home. If we want teachers, police officers and young families to live in the communities they serve, we must cut red tape and accelerate the pace of affordable housing construction.
The same principle applies to insurance. The market is dominated by only a handful of carriers that can raise rates with little competition. Real reform must focus on restoring that competition, making sure insurers are financially strong enough to pay claims when hurricanes strike, and holding companies accountable for unfair practices. A healthy market is one where insurers compete on price and service.
Equally as important, we have to address the everyday costs that drain South Florida paychecks. Groceries, gas and utilities are everyday essentials no family can avoid. The answer is to open up the market and ensure real competition. And to make sure progress is measured, we should require quarterly affordability benchmarks, such as public reporting of median rent, average insurance premiums and wage growth.
Michael Carbonara is an entrepreneur and Republican candidate for Florida’s 25th Congressional District. He lives in Weston with his wife Sonia and their two daughters.
