Economy - AZ FREE NEWS

Arizona’s Child Care Providers Drop Nearly 50% As Costs Climb To Record Highs

Dec 11, 2025

By Ethan Faverino | Arizona's childcare system is in crisis, with the number of licensed providers plummeting nearly 50% since 2002, while costs have skyrocketed beyond the reach of many working families, according to a new report from the Common Sense Institute...

Sen. Dunn Criticizes “Irresponsible” Reporting On Yuma Agriculture

Dec 4, 2025

By Jonathan Eberle | Arizona State Senator Tim Dunn (LD-25) is pushing back against what he describes as misleading and poorly vetted reporting on agricultural practices in Yuma, after a recent Cronkite News article raised concerns about pesticide use and worker...

Gas Prices Dip To Multi-Year Lows As Americans Headed Into Thanksgiving

Nov 29, 2025

By Ethan Faverino | As families across the nation prepared for Thanksgiving travel, gas prices provided relief at the pump, holding steady around $3 per gallon and marking the lowest levels in years. According to data from fuel savings tracker GasBuddy and the...

Thanksgiving Dinner Costs Drop In 2025

Nov 24, 2025

By Ethan Faverino | The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) released its 40th annual Thanksgiving Dinner Cost Survey, revealing welcoming news for American families. The average cost of a classic Thanksgiving meal for 10 people has fallen to $55.18, or $5.52 per...

Report Finds Arizona Wasted Economic Opportunities Of State Trust Lands

Nov 21, 2025

By Matthew Holloway | A new report from the Common Sense Institute (CSI) Arizona examines the state’s management of its state trust lands, set aside in 1912. It makes the case that the lands represent a “$140 Billion Missed Opportunity.” CSI Arizona argues that the...

Arizona Ranks 24th In The Nation For Launching New Businesses

Nov 20, 2025

By Ethan Faverino | While entrepreneurship is surging across the United States, a new nationwide study by iPostal1, using U.S. Census Bureau data, reveals that not every state is riding the same wave. Arizona lands solidly in the middle at 24th place, recording 1,275...

Arizona’s Shoplifting Risks Rise As Black Friday Approaches

Nov 18, 2025

By Ethan Faverino | As retailers gear up for Black Friday and the holiday rush, a new analysis of FBI crime data highlights significant variations in shoplifting risks across the U.S., with Oregon emerging as the state most vulnerable to theft this November. The study...

Survey Shows Small Business Optimism Eases In October

Nov 15, 2025

By Ethan Faverino | The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index declined 0.6 points in October to 98.2 points. Despite the small decline, it remains above its 52-year historical average of 98. In a positive sign, the Uncertainty index dropped 12 points to 88, marking the...

Arizona Emerges As A Top Destination In New Generational Migration Study

Nov 13, 2025

By Ethan Faverino | A comprehensive new analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau data by the Retirement Living Research Team reveals a seismic shift in American migration patterns, with eight of the top ten states for net population growth located in the South, joined by...

One Arizona City Makes List Of Side-Hustle Hotspots In New National Study

Nov 7, 2025

By Jonathan Eberle | As more Americans look beyond the traditional 9-to-5 for additional income, new research highlights the U.S. cities most actively exploring side-hustle opportunities — and one Arizona community, Tempe, has earned a spot among the nation’s top...

Arizona Ranks Third Worst In The Nation For Shoplifting

Nov 6, 2025

By Ethan Faverino | Arizona has emerged as one of the nation’s hotspots for shoplifting, ranking third highest in the United States with 587.83 incidents per 100,000 residents in 2024, according to a new report by Summit Defense. This rate is 56% above the national...

Retail Returns Projected To Hit $850 Billion In 2025

Oct 28, 2025

By Ethan Faverino | According to the newly released 2025 Retail Returns Landscape, U.S. retailers project that nearly $850 billion in merchandise will be returned this year, equivalent to 15.8% of total sales. The figure, while substantial, reflects a slight decline...