Pending U.S. home sales rose 3.5% year over year during the four weeks ending October 20, the biggest increase in three years (with the exception of the prior 4-week period, when they rose 3.7%). That’s according to a new report from Redfin, the technology-powered real estate brokerage. On a local level, pending sales are up in 35 of the 50 most populous U.S. metros, the most … [More]
End of Word-of-Mouth Advertising? Data Shows Gen Z Trusts Influencers More Than Friends
For years, word-of-mouth has played a critical role in the marketing success of small businesses. New data from GoDaddy suggests that recommendations from friends, family and co-workers are being replaced by influencers in terms of importance to younger consumers. The GoDaddy survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers in September shows that while both Gen Z and Millennial customers … [More]
Arizona Tops List Where Homeownership Has Increased the Most since 2020
A new study from the money experts at Moneywise shows that Arizona has had the highest increase in homeownership since 2020. Arizona has seen the most significant increase in homeownership since 2020 The research analysed government census data from 2020 to 2024 to see which states have had the most significant increase in homeownership. The percentage increase is not the … [More]
Business Rebranding: A Critical Imperative to Thrive in Tomorrow’s Business Landscape
As the business environment continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, business rebranding has emerged as an essential strategy for companies aiming to stay competitive. Karen Tiber Leland, bestselling author of The Brand Mapping Strategy: Design, Build, and Accelerate Your Brand and CEO of Sterling Marketing Group, urges companies to embrace a company rebrand to meet the … [More]
See Where Arizona Ranks on the ‘Most Overworked’ States List
A new study has revealed the most and least overworked states. The study, by personal injury lawyers DeMayo Law Office, analyzed employment data for 2024 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, looking at weekly hours worked for every state to determine which states work the most throughout the year. Researchers also compared figures to the average hours worked in 2014 to … [More]
Next Steps for Victims of Business Email Compromise Scams
Recently, more companies have fallen victim to what is known as “business email compromise” (BEC) scams. The Federal Bureau of Investigation defines a business email compromise scam as a sophisticated email fraud scheme through which a fraudster contacts businesses and individuals to unlawfully obtain money. The common fact pattern is this: A fraudster hacks into an entity’s … [More]
Five Tips for Dealing with a Politically Charged Workplace
With over three decades of experiences in various sectors from Global 500 companies to non-profit and government organizations, we have observed that politics is often the most frequent topic of conversation among employees, second only to sports. In today's hyper-partisan political landscape, the workplace, once a sanctuary from societal divisions, is now an arena for … [More]
Arizona Saw the Fifth-Lowest Salary Growth in 2024
New data reveals which U.S. states have experienced the best wage growth in 2024. The research, conducted by AI productivity platform Plus Docs, examined statewide data on the average weekly wages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The states with the highest percentage increase between March 2023 and March 2024 have been named in the top ten. Nebraska has … [More]
Rise of Resenteeism: Two Thirds Are Unhappy in Their Job, but Refuse to Move
Almost two thirds of professionals in the USA have stated that their job doesn’t fulfill their expectations, however they have very little intention to leave in the coming year – due to the unstable economic environment. Of those who are unhappy in their current role – just a fifth have stated that they are actively looking to move, according to new research from global … [More]
Greater Phoenix Chamber Reveals Latest Arizona Economic Insights
The Greater Phoenix Chamber has released its Arizona Economic Insights Dashboard findings for the most recent time period extending through July 2024. This tool provides access to real-time, interactive data updates on Arizona’s ever-changing economic landscape. Users can delve deeper into unemployment, GDP, job projections, population changes, average income, educational … [More]
How Phoenix’s Creative Community Impacts the Economy
Happening Now: Phoenix Design Week
Imagine walking the aisles of your local grocer and trying to make product purchase decisions based on a sea of blank, white boxes that are all the same shape and size regardless of content. Or interacting with a “smartphone” that was devoid of apps, color or motion. Or living in a place in which every building was exactly the same inside and out, lacking the form and function … [More]
2024 Ranking of the Most Neighborly Cities in America Lists Phoenix Second Best Large City
In celebration of National Neighbor Day (September 28), Neighbor.com—the leading peer-to-peer storage and parking marketplace—unveils the results of its fifth annual "Most Neighborly Cities in America" ranking. To establish the grading criteria, Neighbor surveyed 1,000 individuals on how they define neighborliness. The most common factors included charitable contributions, … [More]
Home Ownership Slightly More Affordable across U.S., Still Difficult for Average Workers
ATTOM, a leading curator of land, property data, and real estate analytics, today released its third-quarter 2024 U.S. Home Affordability Report showing that median-priced single-family homes and condos remain less affordable in the third quarter of 2024 compared to historical averages in 99 percent of counties around the nation with sufficient data to analyze. The latest trend … [More]
Here’s How Homeownership in Arizona Has Changed in the Past 10 Years
New research has named the states where the homeownership rates have changed the most in the last decade. The study, conducted by the real estate site New Jersey Real Estate Network, analyzed US Census data from 2014 to 2024 on the percentage of homeowners in each state, to identify where experienced the highest rise and decline in rates. According to the … [More]
Their Take: Keep Arizona’s Technology Industry Growing
In America, innovation often begins on college campuses. Think Google, Facebook and many other household names that started as ideas in dorm rooms. Yet, before 1980, America’s universities and research centers could never fully capitalize on their inventions. For decades, the federal government had a firm grip on research and patents, creating rules and regulations that … [More]
20 Ways AI Can Transform Any Business
Transcending AI Apathy: Why All Companies Should be Gaining Ground with Artificial Intelligence
While Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming industries across the globe, many businesses both large and small don't fully comprehend how this next-gen technology can benefit their own operation. While AI is often generally thought of in terms of customer service chatbots and customized marketing, the reality is that it's potential to benefit other key aspects of a … [More]
Housing Payments Post Biggest Decline in 4 Years ahead of Fed’s Historic Rate Cut
The median U.S. housing payment was $2,534 during the four weeks ending September 15, down 2.7% from a year earlier–the biggest decline since May 2020, according to a new report from Redfin, the technology-powered real estate brokerage. Monthly payments are falling because mortgage rates dropped to their lowest level in 20 months in the lead-up to the Fed’s first interest-rate … [More]
The AI Overwhelm: How to Avoid Burnout and Stay Productive
As generative AI tools are constantly “learning” and becoming more sophisticated, business owners and marketers must also continuously learn how to use those tools most effectively and efficiently. I recently decided to dive into Claude, an AI assistant, for some custom XML prompts to get higher-quality outputs from AI. As someone who isn't a tech newbie, I was optimistic. But … [More]
