Southwest Florida: Garage sale economy | news-press.com | The News-Press
Garage sales have morphed in Southwest Florida from a means to purge the flotsam and jetsam in people’s lives to simply helping them survive.
A plunging economy, soaring gas prices, the highest unemployment rate in 15 years and skyrocketing foreclosures are forcing Southwest Florida residents to hold garage sales not to downsize or de-clutter, but to make ends meet.
People being foreclosed upon are moving out of state and lightening the load by selling possessions. Real estate and personal property auctions of household items also are rising.
“Southwest Florida has always kind of been the garage sale capital of the world,” said Bruce Scott of Bruce Scott Auctions in Fort Myers.