GAINESVILLE, Fla.- A new University of Florida survey shows a growing pessimism among the state's residents worried about the potential effects of Congress failing to deal with the fiscal cliff.
    
Confidence that personal finances will be sound at this time next year dropped two points in the monthly survey while confidence in the U.S. economy over the coming year fell six points in the survey of 400 Florida residents by UF researchers.
    
Overall, Florida's consumer confidence remained unchanged in December, albeit down slightly from a post-recession peak in September.
    
Improving home sales and rising home values, declining gas prices and a resilient stock market offered the good news in the report along with trends that state revenues may be higher than estimated for the first time in several years.