As UPS, FedEx, and other major carriers roll out their 2026 rate structures, the ecommerce landscape faces a critical inflection point. With headline General Rate Increases of 5.9% masking effective increases of 10–20% due to surcharges, shipping has ceased to be a simple operational expense. It has evolved into a core component of Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), determining whether … [More]
Middle Market Performance Reflects Measured Optimism
Middle market performance in 2025 reflects a year of stability and incremental improvement following earlier fluctuations. Revenue growth dipped mid‑year but rebounded modestly in Q4, demonstrating resilience despite softer hiring trends. Most companies continued to report year‑over‑year revenue gains, with expectations for future growth trending upward. Average revenue growth … [More]
January Marks Seasonal Cooldown for Phoenix Housing
Activity slowed in the Phoenix single-family residential housing market in January. Closed sales were up slightly, increasing 0.6% from January 2025. Pending sales dropped 31.3% from last year, and new listings were down 6.1%. “When you look at the long-term trending numbers, January is always a slow month for residential real estate,” said Sammy Glassman, board president of … [More]
Small Business Optimism Holds Above Average as Uncertainty Climbs
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell 0.2 points in January to 99.3 and remained above its 52-year average of 98. Of the 10 Optimism Index components, three increased and seven decreased. Expected real sales volume was the only component with substantial change, increasing by 6 points. The Uncertainty Index rose 7 points from December to 91. A rise in owners reporting … [More]
Labor Index Highlights Ongoing Small-Business Worker Shortage
NFIB’s January Jobs Report includes the launch of the new Small Business Employment Index, which measures the current state of the small business labor market. The new index integrates actual and planned changes in employment and employee compensation into a singular data point. A higher Index reflects an overall tighter labor market; a lower Index reflects an overall weaker … [More]
The Workforce Isn’t Burned Out. It’s Grieving.
Burnout has become the default explanation for nearly every form of workplace distress. It gets cited after layoffs, during reorganizations and whenever motivation drops without an obvious cause. But burnout no longer explains what people are actually experiencing. Across industries, professionals are not depleted by effort. They are destabilized by loss. Loss of role. Loss … [More]
AI Slop Crisis: 7 in 10 Managers Report Recurring, Costly Errors from Direct Reports’ AI Use
Resume.org has released new findings from a January 2026 survey of 1,146 U.S. managers regarding the impact of artificial intelligence on workplace accuracy. The results reveal a growing "AI slop" crisis, where 70% of managers have observed direct reports making AI-related errors that carry significant business consequences, including financial losses exceeding $50,000. The … [More]
Look Before You Leap: Questions Every Leader Should Ask Before Joining A Nonprofit Board
If you’re a business leader, you’re probably involved in your community. Serving on a nonprofit board is a great way to share your time and talent. Perhaps someone asked you to join a board. Don’t feel obligated to say “yes” on the spot. Take a beat and gather information to make sure it’s a good fit for both sides. Ask to schedule a meeting rather than accepting … [More]
AI Agents are Reshaping Retail Strategy for Arizona Businesses
As 2026 begins, one technology trend is gaining momentum: the rise of AI agents. AI agents are software systems that analyze data, make decisions and take action automatically, often in real time, without constant human input. Once limited to large national retailers, this trend is now shaping how small and mid-sized businesses approach operations, pricing and customer … [More]
Phoenix Lands Mid-Pack in 2026 National Housing Market Rankings
Home shoppers looking for an advantage will find it in Zillow's newly released list of the most buyer-friendly housing markets of 2026. Indianapolis, Atlanta and Charlotte top the list of metros where buyers will find room to negotiate for relatively budget-friendly homes that have a combination of cooling prices now with expected appreciation ahead. Buyers can breathe … [More]
Phoenix Housing Affordability Expected to Improve as Mortgage Costs Ease
A mortgage payment on a typical home is forecast to be affordable in 20 major metropolitan areas by the end of the year, according to the latest market report from Zillow. That's the most since 2022. Zillow expects slow but steady home value growth, falling mortgage rates and rising incomes to contribute to a nationwide improvement in affordability this year. Affordability … [More]
Hiring Skilled Foreign Talent Just Got More Complicated for Employers
The Department of Homeland Security has issued a final rule changing how the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) selects cap-subject H-1B registrations when demand exceeds the annual cap. Instead of treating all registrations equally, USCIS will use a “weighted” random selection that generally gives better odds to higher-paying positions, based on the … [More]
End-of-Year Momentum Lifts Phoenix Single-Family Sales Above 2024 Levels
The year ended on a positive note as 2025 Greater Phoenix closed single-family home sales climbed 4.5% over 2024, according to data from Phoenix REALTORS. Nationally, sales were down 1% for the year. Compared with December 2024, sales were up 12.1% in Phoenix and just 4.5% nationally. “Strong. That’s one word to describe the finish to 2025,” said Sammy Glassman, board … [More]
Small-Business Optimism Rises Again in December
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose 0.5 points in December to 99.5 and remained above its 52-year average of 98. Of the 10 Optimism Index components, two increased, three decreased, and five were unchanged. An increase in those expecting better business conditions primarily drove the rise in the Optimism Index. The Uncertainty Index fell 7 points from November to 84, … [More]
The Next Logistics Frontier: IoT-Powered Cold Chain Control
IoT-enabled cold chain monitoring involves using connected devices and sensors to track perishable foods, medical supplies, and other sensitive goods during the delivery and storage to ensure they are preserved in prescribed conditions. This is a rapidly growing use case of IoT in logistics, as indicated by various market studies. Future Market Insights, for instance, forecasts … [More]
AI Principles for 2026: Five Rules Every Innovator Should Follow
Artificial intelligence is evolving faster than any other technology in modern history. Every week brings new tools and breakthroughs, yet true progress comes from purpose, patience and understanding how to apply innovation responsibly. Building meaningful AI systems requires more than technical skill. It demands empathy, experimentation and a focus on solving real problems for … [More]
Arizona’s 2026 Economic Signals: Separating Noise From Opportunity
With 2026 approaching, entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals are navigating a landscape defined by mixed signals. The record-long government shutdown, Federal Reserve rate cuts and tariff challenges have fueled widespread uncertainty. Yet these events often overshadow steadier indicators that typically guide long-range financial planning and portfolio positioning more … [More]
What Federal Marijuana Rescheduling Could Mean for Healthcare, Banking, and Cannabis
Last month, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order directing U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to take “all necessary steps” to reschedule marijuana intended for medical use to Schedule III from Schedule I, making medical marijuana more readily available for research, testing, and personal treatment programs. For healthcare providers and legal marijuana businesses, … [More]
