ECONOMICS

In many ways, the engine of global economic growth is hidden in plain sight.

Family-owned businesses, which make up 90% of global enterprises, have driven job creation and entrepreneurship over history. While the majority of these are mom-and-pop shops, some of the world’s largest companies, from Walmart to Ford, are family-run.

This graphic, via Visual Capitalist's Dorothy Neufeld, shows the economic influence of family businesses in select countries, with analysis (more…)

The last few months have been volatile – to say the least – for US durable goods orders, November saw orders surge 5.4% MoM – the biggest monthly jump since July 2020. This sent year-over-year orders growth up 10.1% – the highest since May 2022…

Source: Bloomberg

The headline orders print was more than double the +2.3% MoM expected and Ex-Transports, durable goods orders jumped 0.5% MoM (+0.1% exp).

The surge in orders was primarily based on non-defense aircraft & (more…)

Authored by Susan Crabtree via RealClear Wire,

More than two years after the Biden administration called on all federal agencies to create plans to bring employees who teleworked during the COVID pandemic back to the office, the vast majority of Washington, D.C.’s federal buildings are still sprawling expanses of empty, echoing hallways and offices. 

In fact, 17 of 24 federal agencies use an estimated 25% or less of their headquarters’ office capacity, according to an (more…)