For decades, most U.S. businesses have defaulted to transacting international business in U.S. dollars. The dollar’s status as the world’s reserve currency makes this possible, with approximately 55% of bank customers’ cross-border flows denominated in dollars, according to a recent report from the International Monetary Fund. However, “possible” doesn’t always mean … [More]
Import Tariffs: The Hidden Costs of Staying Competitive
In Arizona, where population growth and record-breaking demand are stretching the power grid, the push for new solar and energy infrastructure is as strong as it has ever been. Every project we deliver connects to a system that needs more capacity and more resilience. Yet, the pace at which we can build is increasingly shaped by a factor that feels far removed from substations … [More]
Valley Housing Sends Mixed Message as Buyer Activity Ticks Up and Prices Ease
Active listings of homes for sale fell 1.4% month over month in August—the largest seasonally-adjusted decline since June 2023, according to a new report from Redfin, the real estate brokerage powered by Rocket. They rose 9.7% from a year earlier—the smallest year-over-year increase since March 2024. New listings also cooled, falling 1.1% month over month to the … [More]
Valley Closed Home Sales Double National Rate
Greater Phoenix August home sales closed up 4.6% from July and up 2.8% for the first eight months of 2025 in year-over-year comparisons, according to the latest data from Phoenix REALTORS. Closed sales in the Valley were more than double the national rate. Nationally, sales were up 2% from August 2024 and 0.8% for year-to-date numbers comparing 2025 over … [More]
Report: Home Inventory Peaks and Competition Eases Mid-October
The best time to buy a home in 2025 is fast approaching. According to the Realtor.com 2025 Best Time to Buy Report, the week of October 12–18 will be the year's sweet spot for home shoppers, with a rare combination of higher inventory (32.6% more active listings from the start of the year), lower prices (a potential savings of $15,000), and less competition (30.6% lower) that … [More]
Canadian Buyers Pull Back from U.S. Market, Trend Aligns with Tariff Timeline
According to the latest report by Redfin, he number of Canadians searching for U.S. homes started dropping significantly in February, when the White House implemented 25% tariffs on imports from Canada. The steepest decline was a 34.2% year-over-year drop in April, the month the Trump administration announced its global tariff policy. The declines have shrunk since then … [More]
Labor Concerns Loom amid Slight Optimism Uptick
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose 0.5 points in August to 100.8, nearly 3 points above the 52-year average of 98. Of the 10 Optimism Index components, four increased, four decreased, and two were unchanged. The increase in those expecting real sales to be higher contributed the most to the rise in the Optimism Index. The Uncertainty Index fell by 4 points to 93 but … [More]
NFIB Report: Labor Quality Remains Top Issue as Openings Moderate
NFIB’s August jobs report found that 32% (seasonally adjusted) of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in August, down 1 point from July. The last time unfilled job openings fell below 32% was in July 2020. Twenty-eight percent have openings for skilled workers, down 1 point, and 13% have openings for unskilled labor (up 1 point). “While the economy … [More]
Reframing Arizona’s Housing Market: Why Today’s Market Offers More Power to Buyers
For years, home buyers in Arizona faced mounting obstacles, including fierce competition, rising prices and limited inventory. Today’s market, however, points to a change in those trends. Realtor.com recently reported that Phoenix led the nation in de-listings in May 2025. While sellers still hold considerable sway, there are growing signs that buyers are gaining more … [More]
Aerospace & Defense: The Impact on Arizona’s Growth
Aerospace & defense is interwoven in our state’s economy with its extensive range of manufacturing and engineering, from aircraft to optics, weapons systems to drone detection, and parts to software. Four of our major A & D businesses help us gain a snapshot view of the current strength of the industry and what bodes for the future. … [More]
Inside Phoenix’s Members-Only Dining Movement
Once considered the “Wild West,” Phoenix has swiftly become a cultural and culinary hotspot, rivaling the likes of Los Angeles, New York City, Austin and San Francisco. Within the past few years, Phoenix has seen a notable increase in members-only dining clubs that cater to affluent locals and tourists alike who seek exclusivity and elevated experiences. This trend, already … [More]
Investors Buy Nearly One-Third of Homes Sold Nationally in 2025
Cotality, a global provider of property information, analytics, and data-enabled solutions, released its latest update on investor activity in the U.S. housing market. Investor activity dipped slightly in the second quarter of 2025 but remains elevated compared to years past. In January, investors accounted for 32% of single-family home purchases. By June the … [More]
Phoenix Construction Market Holds Steady with Targeted Growth amid Tariff Pressures
Phoenix’s construction market is seeing targeted growth across industrial, retail, healthcare and office improvements, as developers adapt to shifting demand and new tariff pressures, according to LGE Design Build’s newly released Q3 2025 Construction Delivery Outlook. “Phoenix’s construction market remains active, but developers are moving forward with a sharper focus,” said … [More]
Valuation Experts Rank States by Business Formation, Arizona Misses Top Ten
Business valuation experts Eton Venture Services analyzed United States Census Bureau data on the number of new business formations in each state from January to May in 2025. To reduce the effects of population bias, the ranking has been determined by the states that have had the highest rate of business formations per 100,000 people. Arizona is 16th in the US for … [More]
Small Business Inflation Reaches Crisis Level, Hitting Arizona Hardest
Small businesses in Arizona are struggling to beat inflation more than anywhere else in America, a financial expert has revealed. The study from Lido.app examined challenges facing small companies across all 50 states, tracking employment figures, wage shifts, utility expenses, and price jumps between 2020 and 2024 to measure inflation's impact. Arizona placed last overall … [More]
Home Purchases Are Getting Canceled at a Record Rate, Phoenix Bucks the Trend
Roughly 58,000 U.S. home-purchase agreements were canceled in July, equal to 15.3% of homes that went under contract last month, according to a new report from Redfin, the real estate brokerage powered by Rocket. That’s up from 14.5% a year earlier and marks the highest July rate in records dating back to 2017. This is based on a Redfin analysis of MLS pending-sales … [More]
Arizonans Are Waiting More Than 8 Years to Buy a Home, According to Study
A new study, conducted by Chicksx, analyzed data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the US Census Bureau to determine how long the average earner in each state needs to save for a home. In first place is Hawaii, with housing affordability statistics for 2023 showing that Hawaii homes reach a median value of $846,400. With just $489 left over each month for resident of … [More]
Phoenix Home Values Could See 20% Correction in New Year, Says Study
Everyone knows real estate is local, and some markets are riskier than others. NewHomeSource examined active listings, affordability, community count, employment growth, homeowner insurance burden, net migration, and price appreciation to determine these are the 11 riskiest markets to buy a house in right now. These are the markets facing the sharpest imbalance … [More]
