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]
OEMs Adapting Pricing amidst Cooling Inflation and Tariff Policy Uncertainty
Navigating the complexities of pricing to boost revenue in the manufacturing sector
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]
Arizona Predicted to Be Top State for Franchise Business Growth in 2025
According to new study, Arizona will add 1,374 new local franchise businesses in 2025, 13,441 jobs; Franchise sector will contribute $22.6 billion to state's economy in 2025 bringing business ownership opportunities, economic growth, and job creation The International Franchise Association released its annual Franchising Economic Outlook showing that Arizona is expected to … [More]
Survey Finds 3 in 10 Companies Will Enforce a Full 5-Day In-Office Workweek This Year
ResumeTemplates.com, the leading platform for free professional resume templates and examples, from a January 2025 survey examining corporate return-to-office (RTO) strategies. The survey of 849 U.S. managers reveals that 27% of companies will require employees to work in-office five days a week by the end of the year, with many citing corporate trends and recent government … [More]
Report: ASU Adds as Much Economic Impact as Hosting the Big Game, Times Eight
A new report Shows ASU contributes an estimated $32 billion
More than one in four working Arizonans with a bachelor's degree earned it from Arizona State University but the economic impact generated is a crucial benefit to the entire state. According to a new report from the Seidman Research Institute at the W. P. Carey School of Business, ASU's spending on operations and construction contributes, directly and indirectly, $6.1 … [More]
Surety Bonds: A Key to Managing Construction Risk in 2025
Ensuring projects meet specifications and honor commitments
As Arizona continues to experience rapid population growth, the construction industry is a critical player in accommodating the evolving needs in the state — from new commercial projects and infrastructure developments to housing community demand. And while this economic activity is ultimately a good thing, it also brings with it increased risk and a high bar for quality, … [More]
Arizona among Leaders in Job Searches: Americans Looking for Career Change in 2025
Amid rising unemployment across the U.S., a new study reveals which states are most eager to find jobs. The localization management platform, Centus, used Google Keyword Planner to analyze the search volume data for each U.S. state in the past 12 months for keywords related to finding a job. These keywords included ‘Glassdoor,’ ‘ZipRecruiter,’ ‘Indeed Jobs,’ and ‘Job near me.’ … [More]
Arizona Businesses Received $913 Million in SBA Funding in 2024
Small businesses are the backbone of Arizona’s economy, and a new study from LendingTree highlights just how crucial Small Business Administration (SBA) loans are to their success. Arizona’s businesses are leading the pack when it comes to SBA loans. In fiscal year 2024, 1,533 businesses in the Grand Canyon State secured $913 million in SBA loans, averaging $595,553 per loan … [More]
Survey: As 2025 Begins, CEOs Are Most Worried about a Trade War and Recession
As the new year begins, what will keep the world's executives up at night? CEOs globally rank intensified trade wars as the top geopolitical risk to their companies. They say tensions between the US, EU, and China will have the greatest geopolitical impact, according to a new survey from The Conference Board. When it comes to economic risks, leaders can't seem to kick the … [More]
