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]
Home-Price Growth Slows as Mortgage Rates Dip to Lowest Level in over 2 Months
The median U.S. home-sale price rose just 3.5% year over year during the four weeks ending February 23, the smallest increase since September. That’s according to a new report from Redfin, the technology-powered real estate brokerage. Mortgage rates have declined to their lowest level in more than two months, dipping from 7.13% to 6.78% in the last two weeks alone and upping … [More]
2025 Study Shows 78% of AI Power Users Are Actively Looking for New Jobs
Betterworks, the leading modern performance management software company, today released its highly anticipated 2025 State of Performance Enablement report, “AI and the Employee Experience: Balancing Opportunity and Anxiety.” It reveals a workplace at a crossroads: AI is driving record-breaking productivity, but its most engaged users are heading for the exit. The divide is … [More]
2025 Small Business Outlook
A Look Back at 2024: Twenty twenty-four will be remembered for many things, but the soft landing of the U.S. economy and the reelection of Donald Trump as President of the United States will likely prove most significant. Both were a surprise to many experts and seem to tell conflicting stories about the health of the U.S. economy, but both will have a huge impact on small … [More]
Survey Finds DEI Benefits Workers
Workers say DEI fosters inclusivity, and has positively influenced their careers
ResumeTemplates.com, the leading platform for free professional resume templates and examples, has released new findings from a February 2025 survey examining the impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs on U.S. workers. The survey of 1,239 full-time employees reveals that half of Americans believe DEI initiatives have positively influenced their careers, while … [More]
Chamber and Bank Team Up to Provide Economic Data and Analysis to Arizona Business Community
The Greater Phoenix Chamber is excited to announce the relaunch of the Arizona Economic Insights Dashboard, now powered by BOK Financial. This enhanced, dynamic resource offers businesses and individuals real-time, interactive data updates on Arizona’s constantly evolving economic landscape. The public now has access to detailed insights into key indicators such as GDP, job … [More]
Small Businesses Remain Optimistic, Uncertainty Rising on Main Street
Small business owners report few skilled applicants in January for their open positions
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]
