Survey: Americans want to live in Florida

Florida and California beat Hawaii as the top states where Americans want to live, according to a Harris Poll released Wednesday.

Online pollsters asked 2,232 adults where, excluding their current state, they would most like to live, and Florida came out on top for the first time since 2001.

Texas dropped out of the top five from 2013, the last time the survey was conducted, putting Colorado in fourth place and New York at No. 5. Hawaii ranked No. 3.

While California ranked No. 2 among most desirable states in which to live, it also was the No. 1 state where some survey respondents would least like to live, followed by New York, Alaska, Mississippi and Texas, at No. 5.

Hawaii was the No. 1 state in which most respondents wanted to live in 2011, and came in second in 2006, 2010, and 2013.

Among U.S. cities people would most like to live in, or near to, Honolulu ranked No. 7, while Maui, described as a city for the purposes of this survey, is in 13th place.

The survey was conducted between Nov. 11 and 16, and results are posted online at 808ne.ws/1NxwlEy.

November home construction rose sharply

WASHINGTON >> A big jump in apartment construction in the Midwest and South boosted the pace of homebuilding in November, marking a solid bounce back after tumbling in October. Construction of single-family houses also increased and reached an eight-year high.

The Commerce Department said Wednesday that total housing starts — both houses and apartments— climbed 10.5 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.17 million homes. The increase reversed much of the drop in starts during October.

There has been sharp growth in homebuilding, with starts having increased 11 percent so far this year.

U.S. industrial output continues to decrease

WASHINGTON >> U.S. industrial output fell for the third straight month in November, another sign that American manufacturers are under stress.

American industrial production dropped 0.6 percent last month, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday. It was the biggest drop since March 2012. Manufacturing output was flat after expanding 0.3 percent in October.

American industry is being hurt by economic weakness overseas and a strong dollar that makes U.S. goods more expensive in foreign markets. Still, the American economy is relatively healthy thanks to solid consumer spending.

FedEx profits on growth of online shopping

MEMPHIS, Tenn. >> FedEx said that its quarterly profit rose 4 percent, helped by growth in online shopping and lower costs in its core express-delivery business.

The latest results cover the three months ending Nov. 30, capturing a sliver of the key holiday-shipping period. FedEx has predicted that holiday shipments would rise 12.4 percent over last year because of the continuing growth in online shopping.

The Memphis company on Wednesday reaffirmed its forecast for earnings in the fiscal year that ends in May.

Pharmaceutical company softens forecast

Embattled Valeant Pharmaceuticals Inc. has slashed its expectations for the fourth quarter and all of 2015 and issued a guarded outlook for 2016, primarily due to lower sales after congressional and media scrutiny forced it to end a questionable distribution arrangement for its lucrative dermatology and ophthalmology medicines.

Chief Executive Officer Michael Pearson said Wednesday that Valeant should be judged based on its ongoing growth and strategy and its “great brands,” not its small research budget or the controversial business practices that have triggered government probes and created turmoil.

Ex-Massey CEO could pay tens of millions

CHARLESTON, W.Va. >> Prosecutors say ex-Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship may have to pay tens of millions of dollars after a conviction carrying up to one year in prison.

In U.S. District Court in Beckley Wednesday, prosecutors opposed Blankenship’s plea to reduce his $5 million bond to $250,000 and drop travel restrictions. Prosecutors say restitution could ruin his wealth and make him a flight risk for sentencing in April.

Prosecutors say if it weren’t for Blankenship’s conspiracy, most of the 29 deaths from the Upper Big Branch Mine explosion in West Virginia in 2010 could have been avoided.

Of all the islands in all the archipelagos in all the world, Maui is the second-most desired destination for 2016, behind Orlando, Fla., and ahead of Alaska cruises.

According to an analysis of travel-booking professionals released Wednesday, the difference between the three travel choices is a slight six-tenths of a percentage point.

More than 1,300 U.S.-based travel agency owners, managers and others within the Travel Leaders Group survey, were asked about destinations being booked for the coming year,among other questions.

Honolulu ranked sixth behind No. 5, Las Vegas.

Hawaii island ranks at No. 13 for the coming year, with cruises to the Big Island at No. 14. Kauai ranks 19th, behind Anchorage, Alaska, and Atlanta, which are tied for 17th.

A year ago, Orlando was ranked second to first-place Alaska cruises, with Maui coming in third.

Maui has been ranked No. 2, 3, 4 or 5 since at least 2005, according to Travel Leaders Group.

The 2016 survey took place between Nov. 17 and Dec. 8 and is available at 808ne.ws/1YkMjHi .

ON THE MOVE

The Plaza Club has announced the following:

>> Richard Hee is the company’s new director of sales. He has more than 40 years of executive management experience in sales, marketing and operational management. Prior tojoining the Plaza Club, Hee served as director of sales at Mokulele Airlines and general manager of Island Movers. He also was director of Hawaii and South Pacific sales and regionalsales manager for Aloha Airlines, and vice president in various departments at Island Air for 20 years.

>> Bryan Ashlock has been appointed to assistant general manager. He has 30 years of culinary and hospitality experience, including previously serving as a culinary operationsconsultant to Kahala Resort, hotel manager of Turtle Bay Resort, executive chef at Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa and executive chef at Sheraton Moana Surfrider.

Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii recently received products worth more than $30,000 from T&C Surf and Vans. The items included backpacks, T-shirts and socks, which were delivered tothe BGCH Hale Pono Clubhouse.