TAMPA - It may come as no surprise, but Floridians have lost even more confidence in the real estate market.

Consumers aren't optimistic about any part of the market - housing, retail or office, according to a survey released Wednesday by the University of Florida.
Confidence levels have reached lows seldom seen in the Sunshine State, said Wayne Archer, executive director of the school's Bergstrom Center for Real Estate Studies.

"The big news is that the recession and the latest shocks in the financial markets and automobile industry have finally taken their toll," he said. "People not only foresee tough times in the short term, but they're also revising downward their longer-term future outlook."

The investment outlook for various types of properties has sunk to depths not seen for three decades, according to the survey.

Also on Wednesday, another dismal housing report was released.

The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo housing market index dropped 1 point to a record low of 8 in January. The index was at 9 for the previous two months.

Index readings greater than 50 indicate positive sentiment about the market.

Consumers are afraid to spend, Archer said, and that's contributing to the economic standstill.

As people spend less, businesses lay off more workers, and those workers then spend less. More companies are putting off plans to expand, the university's survey states, which is hurting the office sector.

"You can't pick up the newspaper without seeing another story about layoffs, and I think that's getting to consumers," Archer said. "They're prudently pulling in their financial resources, and as a result, things are dropping off very quickly on the retail front."

The university's quarterly survey is based on 381 responses. In previous surveys, the investment outlook for various types of properties was steady.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this story. Reporter Shannon Behnken can be reached at (813) 259-7804.