Natalie Kaufman

Private equity firms deploy large pools of debt to buy privately held companies or to take public companies private. Their eventual goal is to sell those assets at a profit.

Inflation, high interest rates and soaring insurance premiums have weighed on small businesses, especially in Florida, where storm activity has intensified in recent years, prompting some insurers to flee the state. That's created a glut of vacant commercial properties.

Hernando County Commissioners expect upgrades to Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport will spur economic growth and attract higher-paying jobs to the area.

When rates fall, sellers can also benefit.

Retail electricity prices have risen faster than the rate of inflation since 2022, according to federal data. They’re poised to climb more rapidly amid growing demand for energy — in part, to power the rise of artificial intelligence.