TAMPA - This shouldn't surprise many Floridians, but the Sunshine State ranked 48th in the country in economic growth in 2008, according to new federal data.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released growth rates for real gross domestic product for the 50 states and Washington. Real GDP is the value of all goods and services produced in a year, adjusted for inflation.

Among industries that helped drag down Florida's ranking were construction, administrative services, waste services and finance and insurance. The best-performing states tended to be in the nation's middle and benefited from growth in agriculture, forestry, mining and other industries.

Reporter Michael Sasso can be reached at (813) 259-7865.