The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell by 2.3 points in January to 102.8. This is the third consecutive month above the 51-year average of 98. The Uncertainty Index rose 14 points to 100 – the third highest recorded reading – after two months of decline. “Overall, small business owners remain optimistic regarding future business conditions, but uncertainty is on the … [More]
17% of Homeowners with Mortgages Have an Interest Rate of at Least 6%, the Highest Share in Nearly a Decade
Nationwide, 17.2% of U.S. homeowners with mortgages have an interest rate greater than or equal to 6%, the highest share since 2016, according to a new report from Redfin, the technology-powered real estate brokerage. That’s up nearly five percentage points from 12.3% in the third quarter of 2023. If this growth rate were to continue, which is feasible, the share of homeowners … [More]
Film Production Projects in Greater Phoenix Generated $29.1M in Economic Impact in 2024
Film production in the Greater Phoenix area generated an impressive $29.1 million in economic output during the 2024 calendar year, as highlighted in the City of Phoenix Film Office's latest Economic Impact Report that was released this week. The report takes into account all aspects of film production, and includes expenditures on local goods and services. The 2024 … [More]
Job Openings Remain a Top Concern for Main Street, Says Report
Hiring difficulties persist for small businesses, especially in construction and transportation
NFIB’s January jobs report found that 35% (seasonally adjusted) of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in January, unchanged from December. Job openings were the highest in the transportation, construction, and manufacturing sectors, and the lowest in the agriculture and finance sectors. Job openings in construction were up four points from last … [More]
Owning a Home More Affordable Than Renting, Both Still Pose Significant Burdens
ATTOM, a leading curator of land, property data, and real estate analytics, today released its 2025 Rental Affordability Report, which shows that owning a home in the United States is more affordable than renting a three-bedroom property in more than half of county-level markets around the nation. The report shows that both owning and renting remain difficult for average … [More]
Arizona Predicted to Be Top State for Franchise Business Growth in 2025
According to new study, Arizona will add 1,374 new local franchise businesses in 2025, 13,441 jobs; Franchise sector will contribute $22.6 billion to state's economy in 2025 bringing business ownership opportunities, economic growth, and job creation The International Franchise Association released its annual Franchising Economic Outlook showing that Arizona is expected to … [More]
Survey Finds 3 in 10 Companies Will Enforce a Full 5-Day In-Office Workweek This Year
ResumeTemplates.com, the leading platform for free professional resume templates and examples, from a January 2025 survey examining corporate return-to-office (RTO) strategies. The survey of 849 U.S. managers reveals that 27% of companies will require employees to work in-office five days a week by the end of the year, with many citing corporate trends and recent government … [More]
Report: ASU Adds as Much Economic Impact as Hosting the Big Game, Times Eight
A new report Shows ASU contributes an estimated $32 billion
More than one in four working Arizonans with a bachelor's degree earned it from Arizona State University but the economic impact generated is a crucial benefit to the entire state. According to a new report from the Seidman Research Institute at the W. P. Carey School of Business, ASU's spending on operations and construction contributes, directly and indirectly, $6.1 … [More]
Surety Bonds: A Key to Managing Construction Risk in 2025
Ensuring projects meet specifications and honor commitments
As Arizona continues to experience rapid population growth, the construction industry is a critical player in accommodating the evolving needs in the state — from new commercial projects and infrastructure developments to housing community demand. And while this economic activity is ultimately a good thing, it also brings with it increased risk and a high bar for quality, … [More]
Arizona among Leaders in Job Searches: Americans Looking for Career Change in 2025
Amid rising unemployment across the U.S., a new study reveals which states are most eager to find jobs. The localization management platform, Centus, used Google Keyword Planner to analyze the search volume data for each U.S. state in the past 12 months for keywords related to finding a job. These keywords included ‘Glassdoor,’ ‘ZipRecruiter,’ ‘Indeed Jobs,’ and ‘Job near me.’ … [More]
Arizona Businesses Received $913 Million in SBA Funding in 2024
Small businesses are the backbone of Arizona’s economy, and a new study from LendingTree highlights just how crucial Small Business Administration (SBA) loans are to their success. Arizona’s businesses are leading the pack when it comes to SBA loans. In fiscal year 2024, 1,533 businesses in the Grand Canyon State secured $913 million in SBA loans, averaging $595,553 per loan … [More]
Survey: As 2025 Begins, CEOs Are Most Worried about a Trade War and Recession
As the new year begins, what will keep the world's executives up at night? CEOs globally rank intensified trade wars as the top geopolitical risk to their companies. They say tensions between the US, EU, and China will have the greatest geopolitical impact, according to a new survey from The Conference Board. When it comes to economic risks, leaders can't seem to kick the … [More]
Pending Home Sales Fell the Most Since 2022 in December as Mortgage Rates Jumped
Pending home sales fell 4.5% month over month in December on a seasonally adjusted basis—the largest decline since October 2022—and dropped 2.3% year over year. That is according to a new report from Redfin, the technology-powered real estate brokerage. Homebuyer demand dipped at the end of the year because mortgage rates jumped. After inching downward at the … [More]
Business Applications: Study Reveals Arizona Has Tenth-Highest Rate
New research has named the states the most interested in starting a business, with Arizona ranking tenth. The study, conducted by digital marketing experts at Skyline Social, analyzed U.S. Census Bureau data from October 2023 to September 2024 on the number of business applications in each state, to identify which state is the most entrepreneurial. According to the … [More]
Harnessing Purpose for Profit: Sustainable Growth in the Modern Economy
How purpose-driven businesses are rewriting the rules of resilience and growth
In today’s often fast-paced, often chaotic business environment, it’s easy to lose your footing. Growth brings complexity, competition sharpens, and every decision feels high stakes. Leaders often find themselves stretched thin—chasing new opportunities, managing demands from multiple stakeholders and attempting to streamline operations. It’s during this turbulent phase that … [More]
Small Business Optimism Surges Again, Reaches Six-Year High
Main Street uncertainty declines further as owners feel more confident following November’s election results
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose by 3.4 points in December to 105.1, the second consecutive month above the 51-year average of 98 and the highest reading since October 2018. Of the 10 Optimism Index components, seven increased, two decreased, and one was unchanged. The Uncertainty Index declined 12 points in December to 86. “Optimism on Main Street continues to … [More]
Businesses Ring in the New Year with Renewed Optimism
Inflation and labor constraints remain top concerns
There is a renewed sense of optimism among small and midsize business leaders as they consider their business and economic prospects for the year ahead, according to JPMorganChase’s 2025 Business Leaders Outlook survey released today. Compared to a year ago, confidence in the national economy has jumped 12 percentage points to 55% among small business owners, and more than … [More]
Housing Affordability Didn’t Worsen in 2024—The First Time in Four Years That Has Happened
A household making the $83,782 median U.S. income in 2024 would’ve had to spend 41.8% of their earnings on monthly housing costs if they bought the $429,734 median-priced U.S. home, according to a new report from Redfin (redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage. That’s a slight improvement from 42.2% in 2023, but is considerably less affordable than the typical … [More]
