The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) has released a new report that shows American homeowners saw their insurance premiums increase by an average of 24% over the past three years. Nationally, CFA found homeowners saw their insurance premiums rise twice as fast as inflation between 2021 and 2024, which amounts to a $21 billion total price hike for Americans. However, CFA … [More]
Small Businesses Actively Hiring for Current Vacancies
Labor quality remains a challenge for small businesses as job openings persist
NFIB’s March jobs report found that 40% (seasonally adjusted) of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in March, up two points from February. A seasonally adjusted net 12% of owners plan to create new jobs in the next three months, down three points from February. The last time hiring plans were this low was in April 2024. “With qualified workers in … [More]
Insatiable Demand Keeps Metro Phoenix Third in U.S. Data Center Absorption
In a year where data centers faced their toughest power challenges yet, the industry didn’t just survive – it thrived. JLL’s new North America Data Center Year-End 2024 Report reveals a sector charging full speed ahead, with metro Phoenix remaining a top choice based on its location, infrastructure and cost. The market’s current inventory of 804 MW is also about to skyrocket, … [More]
Spring Inventory Blooms, but Buyers Remain Cautious amid Economic Uncertainty
The U.S. housing market saw signs of continued recovery this spring, with more homes hitting the market and total inventory rising for the 17th straight month, according to the March Housing Trends Report from Realtor.com®. However, rising price drops and slipping pending home sales suggest that buyers are proceeding with caution, likely due to current economic unknowns and … [More]
ASU: Exceeding Great Expectations in Downtown Mesa
In just over 2 years, ASU and city of Mesa’s MIX Center partnership has made downtown the place to live, work and play
Anyone visiting downtown Mesa over the past couple of years has a lot to rave about: The bevy of restaurants, unique local shops, entertainment venues and inviting spaces that beg for attention from pedestrians soaking up urban ambiance or families gathering on lush greenery to watch movies projected onto an outdoor screen. However, Bob Nelson, longtime downtown Mesa … [More]
Private Equity Trends Business Owners Should Watch in 2025
Key factors shaping investment strategies
For business owners considering a capital partner or an eventual exit, understanding the trends shaping the private equity (PE) market is crucial. With more than 4,500 private equity firms in the U.S. — nearly as many as the total number of companies traded on the NYSE and Nasdaq combined — there are more options than ever when it comes to choosing the right partner. However, … [More]
VCs Favor Startups with Media Coverage
Build momentum through strategic media engagement
Startup funding in January 2025 reached $10.1 billion, reflecting an 8.3% year-over-year increase but a 12.5% drop from the previous month — clear evidence that securing venture capital remains an uphill battle. While the IPO market may rebound in the upcoming moths, experts caution that it will take time for capital to flow back into VC funding. In this environment, startups … [More]
Arizona’s International Trade Reaches Record Levels
Growing international partnerships lead to historic job numbers, investment in Arizona
International trade and investment continue to fuel new economic opportunities across Arizona, new data shows. Arizona’s international trade reached a record $74.4 billion in 2024, Governor Hobbs announced during her International State of the State Address on Thursday. Exports by Arizona companies rose to $32.2 billion, an 11.6% increase from 2023, and more than five times … [More]
Home Prices Remain Near Record High, Metro Phoenix Unaffordable
ATTOM, a leading curator of land, property data, and real estate analytics, today released its first-quarter 2025 U.S. Home Affordability Report showing that median-priced single-family homes and condos remain less affordable in the first quarter of 2025 compared to historical averages in 97 percent of counties around the nation with enough data to analyze. The latest trend … [More]
Fewer Multifamily Permits Today Could Mean Costlier Rents Ahead
Rents have been on a decline in the top 50 metros for over a year, but low multifamily permitting activity is making way for higher rent prices, according to the Realtor.com® February rent report. In fact, within the top 50 metros only 294,000 multifamily units were permitted in 2024, which is well below the 318,000 units permitted at the peak of the pandemic in … [More]
Public Universities’ Workforce Development and Research Fuel Arizona’s Economic Growth
Investment, research and high-skilled talent position state as tech and bioscience leader
Advancing Arizona’s financial future hinges on strategic investments in capital, talent and innovation, a key theme of the Arizona Fund Manager Association’s LIFT AZ 2025 symposium and panel discussion at the event led by Arizona Board of Regents member Jessica Pacheco. The event united investors and higher education leaders to explore how Arizona can attract and retain top … [More]
Phoenix Ranks Fourth among North American Data Center Markets
North American data center demand surged last year, driving a record amount of construction, with Phoenix boasting some of the highest average asking rates ($170 – $210) for 250-500 kilowatt (kW) per month, according to CBRE’s latest North American Data Center Trend Report. Phoenix’s total inventory increased to 602.8 megawatts (MW) (a 67% increase year over year), ranking … [More]
More People Are House Hunting and Applying for Mortgages as Rates Decline
More house hunters are touring homes and applying for mortgages as weekly average mortgage rates dip to their lowest level since mid-December. That’s according to a new report from Redfin, the technology-powered real estate brokerage. Mortgage-purchase applications rose 7% this week, and Google searches of “homes for sale” are up 10% month over month. Redfin’s Homebuyer … [More]
Small Business Optimism Recedes in February, Says Survey
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell by 2.1 points in February to 100.7. This is the fourth consecutive month above the 51-year average of 98 and is 4.4 points below its most recent peak of 105.1 in December. The Uncertainty Index rose four points to 104 – the second highest recorded reading. “Uncertainty is high and rising on Main Street, and for many reasons,” said … [More]
Phoenix Metro Homes Sell for $6,400 More When They Are Listed in Late November
Spring home sellers who listed their home for sale in the second half of May maximized their home's sale price last year. A new Zillow® analysis found that homes listed in the last two weeks of May sold for 1.6% more, a $5,600 boost on a typical U.S. home. In Arizona, the Phoenix market saw a boost of 1.4%, a $6,400 boost, in last part of November 2024. Search … [More]
More Owners Report Labor Costs as a Top Business Problem, Hiring Challenges Continue
NFIB’s February jobs report found that 38% (seasonally adjusted) of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in February, up three points from January and the highest reading since August 2024. A seasonally adjusted net 15% of owners plan to create new jobs in the next three months, down three points from January. “Over half of Main Street firms … [More]
9 in 10 Homeowners Fear Selling, Phoenix among Those in Slowest Markets
Nearly 9 in 10 homeowners (88%) have fears about selling their homes, according to new reports on home-selling stress and where homes take the longest to sell from Clever Real Estate, a St. Louis-based real estate company. A survey of 1,000 homeowners found the top selling-related fears are: the stress of the sale (42%), selling costs (40%), not being able to … [More]
OEMs Adapting Pricing amidst Cooling Inflation and Tariff Policy Uncertainty
Navigating the complexities of pricing to boost revenue in the manufacturing sector
Those who feel like they’re walking a tightrope with pricing strategies have a lot of company. Original equipment manufacturers across many industrial and motor-wheeled industries face a myriad of challenges when devising pricing strategies. From fluctuations in input costs like labor and raw materials, supply chain disruptions, customer and market sentiments to policy … [More]
