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After another harsh winter, the American economy is stabilizing and beginning to shrug off concerns of a prolonged slowdown or recession. According to the latest economic gauges, industrial production is increasing, inflation is firming, and the housing sector is continuing to pick up momentum. All of these factors, combined with data reflecting retail sales rebounds, …

U.S. Economy Picking Up Momentum in Q2; Interest Rates Predicted to Rise Read More »

2015 was a picture-perfect year for construction, a banner year for the post-recession. Yet in 2016, many contractors in the United States are struggling to find financing for construction projects. The lack of financing has been a reality even over the past several years with the economy recovering by leaps and bounds. It was a …

A Novel Way for Subcontractors to Find Financing Read More »

In a time when consumers are holding their funds close and avoiding spending, a recent report found that businesses are being even more cautious. These findings are likely to weigh heavily on Federal Reserve officials as they consider raising the Federal Fund Rate, despite the fact that they recently decided to delay any increase until …

Businesses Reluctant to Spend, Report Says Read More »

The U.S. economy sluggish start to the year is validating the wait-and-see approach the Federal Reserve has taken with raising interest rates. Business investments, constrained by falling corporate profits and diminishing exports, and held back by the strong dollar, have both played their role in the disappointing start to 2016. Spending-cautious American households are doing …

Sluggish Start Becoming a Pattern for U.S. Economy Read More »

The US manufacturing sector weakened throughout 2015 as the dollar strengthened and made US exports more expensive overseas. Manufacturing activity increased in February, but it remained below the 12-month average. New orders remained positive in January and February, buoyed by increased consumer spending. Though consumer confidence weakened somewhat in March—hurting the manufacturing sector even more—month-by-month …

Think US Manufacturing is Dead? Think Again Read More »

New York State has experienced much warmer temperatures over the past thirty to forty years, and the sea level along New York’s coast has increased about 12 inches over the past 100 years. Though past trends do not necessarily predict future trends, New York officials are indicating with their investments that a real threat exists. …

Action on Climate Change Boosts NY Construction Read More »

Between plummeting oil prices and a global growth slowdown, the United States economy ended 2015 with a dip — but January spending figures and new data on the previous quarter suggest that American consumers are brushing off the jitters. This is heartening news for small businesses and large financial entities alike, with indications that the …

Late 2015 Slump Turns into January Boost for American GDP Read More »

An increasing number of economists and corporate leaders say the risk of the U.S. dipping into a recession is rising. More than anything, they have pointed to the global growth slowdown and convulsions in financial markets. According to the Wall Street Journal’s monthly survey of economists, the average estimate of odds of a recession starting …

Economists and CEOs Agree: Recession Risk Growing Read More »

Real estate investors are betting, perhaps mistakenly, that the six-year trend of rising rents in luxury urban apartment units will continue. Likewise, developers are hoping it will be worth their time, and money, to continue building them. According to research conducted by Axiometrics Inc., developers have built nearly 900,000 new urban apartment rental units over …

Builders Betting on Booming Rent to Continue—Should They? Read More »

There’s a great deal of uncertainty in the market right now. The Fed has already increased their target short-term rate from 0.25% to 0.5%, and they’re planning on increasing it incrementally throughout 2016. In recent years, online platforms like LendingClub Corp. and Prosper Marketplace, Inc. have challenged banks’ hegemony in the lending industry. Today, we’ll …

Market Woes Affecting Online Lenders Read More »