Consumer sentiment among Floridians increased by 6.9 points, to 97.2, between November and December, according to the latest survey results published by the University of Florida's Bureau of Economic and Business Research. Perceptions of one’s personal financial situation now, when compared to a year ago, rose by 1.4 points, while opinions about whether now is a good time to buy a big-ticket item such as an appliance jumped by 8.2 points, with a particularly strong increase among those 60 and older. "Perceptions of present conditions have largely improved as a result of the buying conditions in the holiday shopping season in conjunction with the strength of the state’s economy," explained Hector Sandoval, the director of the university's Economic Analysis Program, according to a press release.