Explore global trends and financial analysis to understand the economic forces shaping our world.
Real Estate
U.S. home prices are expected to continue rising in 2025, albeit at a slower rate than this year, according to a recent forecast from Bank of America. The investment bank’s mortgage-backed securities (MBS) research team predicts a 2% increase in national home prices next year. This projection marks
Economy
In a joint press conference at Mar-a-Lago on Monday, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son announced a monumental $100 billion investment into the United States over the next four years. Joined by President-elect Donald Trump, Son emphasized that the decision reflects his confidence in the U.S. economy under Trump’s leadership.
Real Estate
If you’ve recently searched for an apartment and noticed sky-high rent prices across the board, you’re not imagining things. RealPage, a leading software company, is at the center of an antitrust storm for allegedly driving up rental costs through its algorithm-driven pricing platform. Federal prosecutors and lawmakers argue
Economy
The U.S. manufacturing sector showed signs of recovery in November 2024, with the S&P Global U.S. Manufacturing PMI improving to 49.7, up from October's 48.5. Though still below the neutral 50.0 threshold, the index indicates a slower contraction in the sector
Small Business
U.S. small businesses remain heavily reliant on Chinese imports, despite existing tariffs and the looming threat of additional levies from the Trump administration. Efforts to diversify supply chains face significant challenges, including high domestic labor costs, a shortage of skilled workers, and potential tariffs on alternative manufacturing hubs like
Assets
China has unveiled a monumental gold deposit in Hunan Province's Wangu gold field, Pingjiang County, with reserves exceeding 1,000 metric tons, valued at approximately $83 billion. Geologists identified over 40 gold-bearing veins at depths around 2,000 meters, containing about 300 metric tons of gold. Advanced 3D
Finance
Credit card debt in the United States has reached unprecedented levels, with significant variations across different states. As of the third quarter of 2024, the average credit card balance per cardholder was $6,380, marking a substantial increase from previous years. Top 3 States With the Highest Credit Card Debt
Real Estate
The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage in the United States has dipped slightly to 6.81%, offering a small relief to prospective homebuyers amid a challenging real estate market. This follows a modest decline from the previous week's rate of 6.85%, according to data released
Food
Two of London's historic markets, Smithfield Meat Market and Billingsgate Fish Market, are set to close permanently by 2028. These iconic trading hubs, which have operated for centuries, will cease operations following a decision by the City of London Corporation to withdraw its support. A Rich History Smithfield
Agriculture
The price of Arabica coffee has surged to its highest level since 1977, reaching $3.375 per pound. This significant increase is primarily due to severe drought conditions in Brazil, the world's largest coffee producer. The drought has adversely affected coffee crops, leading to concerns about reduced yields
Construction
The U.S. faces a massive housing shortage, with millions of homes needed to meet growing demand. However, builders are struggling to deliver. A combination of rising costs, labor shortages, and regulatory hurdles is stalling construction, even as home prices soar. The Housing Crisis in Numbers The U.S. currently
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has advanced rapidly, introducing autonomous AI agents capable of performing tasks independently and making decisions without human intervention. These agents represent a significant shift from traditional predictive and generative AI, offering intelligent, scalable digital labor that can analyze information, adapt, and learn autonomously. For