ECONOMY
SBA Offers Disaster Loans To Businesses Affected By Grand Canyon Flooding
By Ethan Faverino | The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced the availability of low-interest federal disaster loans for small businesses and private nonprofit organizations experiencing financial losses from flash flooding at Grand Canyon National Park...
Federal Interest Payments Could Consume More Than Half Of Tax Revenue By 2036
By Ethan Faverino | Federal interest payments could consume more than half of federal tax revenue by 2036, as rising borrowing costs and mounting national debt threaten the nation’s long-term fiscal stability, according to a new report from Congress’ Joint Economic...
Halloween Spending Expected To Reach Record $13.5 Billion In 2026
By Ethan Faverino | Americans are expected to spend $13.5 billion on Halloween this year, surpassing last year’s record of $13.1 billion, according to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) annual consumer survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics. The...
Small Business Organization Endorses Six Arizona Congressional Candidates Ahead Of November Election
By Ethan Faverino | The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) announced its endorsement of six Arizona congressional candidates ahead of the November general election, citing their positions on policies affecting small businesses and economic growth. The...
Consumer Spending Rose In August As Inflation Remained Above Fed Target
By Ethan Faverino | American consumer spending increased in August as inflation remained above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target and the personal savings rate declined, according to the latest economic updates released by Congress’ Joint Economic Committee (JEC). The...
JEC: Arizona Households Faced $4,427 Less In Inflation Costs Under Trump Than Biden
By Staff Reporter | A new study from the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) found that household inflation has been lower this presidential term than the last. The JEC published a data brief on Thursday that reflected that the average household faced $2,881 less in...
U.S. Deficit Reaches $1.97 Trillion With One Month Left In Fiscal Year 2026
By Ethan Faverino | The federal government recorded a nearly $167 billion budget deficit in August, bringing the total shortfall for Fiscal Year 2026 to nearly $2 trillion with one month remaining in the fiscal year. According to the latest Monthly Fiscal Update...
New Arizona Property Tax, Deed Laws Take Effect
By Matthew Holloway | Arizona laws affecting property taxes, deed recording, and county assessor operations took effect Saturday, Sept. 12, the general effective date for the 2026 legislative session. Additional property tax exemptions for disabled veterans and their...
U.S. Consumer Prices Rise 0.4% In August While Phoenix Inflation Hits 2.5%
By Matthew Holloway | The U.S. Consumer Price Index rose 0.4% in August, accelerating from July’s 0.1% increase, while annual inflation remained at 3.4%, according to the latest release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Gasoline prices accounted for more than...
Small Business Administration To Prioritize Defense-Critical Manufacturers As New Rules Take Effect
By Matthew Holloway | The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced last week that it will prioritize applications from small businesses in defense-critical manufacturing industries for its 8(a) Business Development Program as revised eligibility requirements...
Report: 119 Arizona Bills Could Have Cost 424,000 Jobs, $31.5 Billion Annually
By Matthew Holloway | A new economic analysis estimates that measures proposed during Arizona’s 2026 legislative session could have imposed at least $31.5 billion in annual costs and reduced employment by more than 424,000 jobs if they had taken effect together. The...
Small Business Optimism Slips As Sales Weaken, Inflation Persists
By Ethan Faverino | Small business optimism edged lower in August as owners reported weaker sales, persistent inflation pressures, and continued difficulty finding qualified workers, according to the latest data from the National Federation of Independent Business...
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