The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index declined 0.6 points in October to 98.2 but remained above its 52-year average of 98. The Uncertainty Index fell 12 points from September to 88, the lowest reading of this year. “Optimism among small businesses declined slightly in October as owners report lower sales and reduced profits,” said NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg. … [More]
Study: Generative AI Can Guide Goals, but SMB Strategy Still Requires Human Judgement
A peer-reviewed study in the INFORMS journal Decision Analysis finds that while generative AI can help define viable objectives for organizational and policy decision-making, the overall quality of those objectives falls short unless humans intervene. In the field of decision analysis, defining objectives is a foundational step. Before you can evaluate options, allocate … [More]
Manufacturing Momentum: Arizona’s Historic October
Manufacturing Month 2025 marked a milestone moment for Arizona, showcasing the state’s rapid rise as a national leader in advanced manufacturing. From record-breaking events and major investments to new partnerships and workforce expansions, Arizona’s manufacturing ecosystem was on full display. Arizona continues to outpace the nation in manufacturing growth: 10% … [More]
Policy Reset in Washington: What HR and In-House Counsel Must Do Now
Business leaders are seeing a rapid re-calibration of federal labor and employment priorities. With the White House expected to revive many of its earlier pro-business initiatives, the coming years will likely bring a move away from regulatory expansion and toward deregulation, employer flexibility, and economic growth. From the EEOC’s new enforcement posture to evolving DOL … [More]
Their Take: The Widening Gender Pay Gap and its Impacts on Our Economy
The latest Census Bureau report flew a bit under the radar — but the findings matter deeply for Arizona’s future. For the second year in a row, the gender wage gap in the United States has widened. On average, women in 2024 earned just 80.9 cents for every dollar earned by men, down from 82.7 cents from the previous year. At the same time, Black workers’ median wages fell 3.3 … [More]
Giving with Intent: 2025’s Playbook for Business, Brand and Community
Corporate philanthropy has entered a new era. No longer confined to year-end donations or one-off sponsorships, today’s giving strategies are deeply integrated into business models, brand narratives and employee engagement efforts. In 2025, companies are leveraging philanthropy not just to “do good,” but to drive measurable impact, strengthen culture and unlock long-term … [More]
Phoenix Lauded as Most Opportunity-Rich City for Construction Workers
Phoenix is offering the most opportunity for construction workers of any U.S. city in 2025, as the industry experiences strong growth nationwide. With new projects fueling job creation, construction spending is expected to reach $2.2 trillion this year, a 2% increase from 2024. With demand on the rise, Astrak, a leading global supplier of undercarriage and wear parts for heavy … [More]
U.S. Housing Shows Unseasonal Strength on Rate Dip – Phoenix Market Remains Balanced
A September dip in mortgage rates paired with a stock market bump gave a boost to what is traditionally the start of the slow season in real estate. The latest market report from Zillow shows activity from sellers and buyers is unseasonably resilient after a lackluster August. "September's market showed surprising stamina," said Kara Ng, senior economist at Zillow. … [More]
$13B in Untapped Gains: How Housing Affordability Is Key to Arizona’s Economic Future
Arizonans have made housing affordability one of their top priorities, and the economic case for action is clear. According to new analysis from Unlocking Potential: Turn Arizona’s Priorities into Economic Gains, a report released by Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA), tackling the state’s housing affordability crisis could unlock billions, support jobs, reduce strain on … [More]
Phoenix’s Vacant Office Space Re-Imagined: Co-Living Conversions
With office vacancy rates and housing costs near all-time highs, cities across the United States have been searching for ways to turn empty office space into housing, and particularly into lower-cost homes. But that seemingly promising idea has been hard to realize, in large part because of logistical challenges—primarily, plumbing that is confined to the building’s central … [More]
10 Tips for Small Businesses Navigating Today’s Economy
Cardiff, a fintech leader that has funded more than $10 billion in financing to small businesses across the country, released ten actionable strategies to help entrepreneurs maximize cash flow, reduce risk, and seize opportunity in the face of an evolving economy. These statistics reinforce the need for discipline. The U.S. Small Business Administration reports that small … [More]
Valley Single-Family Home Sales Gain Footing in September
Closed sales climbed nearly 11% in September, a promising sign after a flat and dismal summer. The 10.8% rise over September 2024 topped a month of steady numbers and some bright spots for the residential real estate market, according to data from Phoenix REALTORS. “Closed sales were comfortably up last month compared to September last year,” said Christy Walker, … [More]
October Is Cybersecurity Awareness Month—Is Your Business Protected?
Cyberattacks are on the rise, and small businesses are primary targets. From ransomware that can shut down operations overnight to phishing scams aimed at stealing customer data, local Arizona businesses are facing threats that were once reserved for large corporations. Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October is a timely reminder that protecting your business online has … [More]
NFIB: Small Business Optimism Declines in September
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index declined 2.0 points in September to 98.8. This was the first decline in three months, though it remains above the survey’s 52-year average of 98. The Uncertainty Index rose 7 points from August to 100, the fourth-highest reading in over 51 years. “Optimism among small business owners decreased in September,” said NFIB Chief Economist … [More]
$6B at Stake as Court Weighs How to Unwind Google’s Ad Stack
While the Google antitrust case around search made a lot of headlines, the less watched case, focused on advertising technology, marches on. This past Spring Judge Brinkema found Google to be an illegal monopolist in this sector, with evidence they used their dominance in the publisher tools market (ad serving) to capture big swaths of the overall display advertising market. In … [More]
Capital in a Shutdown—Why Relationships and Readiness Win
When government shutdowns occur, small businesses face immediate financial hurdles as SBA loan approvals grind to a halt. During these uncertain periods, maintaining access to capital becomes critical for business survival and growth. As a lender with over 30 years in commercial banking, I've witnessed firsthand how these disruptions affect entrepreneurs and the creative … [More]
From Onboarding to Refunds: How AI Automation Is Rewiring Banking
Banks were among the pioneers of robotic process automation. Since the early 2010s, they have been deploying RPA bots that mimic human behavior to automate clerical, rule-based processes, such as data entry or invoice processing, helping reduce excessive workloads, minimize human errors, and lower operating costs. Today, the banking sector remains at the forefront of digital … [More]
CBRE Answers: How Is Semiconductor Growth Reshaping Metro Phoenix?
In a new report from CBRE, the firm outlines how Arizona’s semiconductor ecosystem has matured from historic roots to a modern growth engine, underscoring the state’s long-standing strengths and its accelerating momentum. Drawing on industry data and recent project activity, CBRE details the factors that have elevated Arizona—its stability, talent pipeline, and coordinated … [More]
