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Did You Know?
KB Homes cut its outlook for the year again after posting lower profit and sales for its fiscal second quarter as housing-market conditions remain sluggish. The company also lowered the top end of its expected average selling price. (WSJ)
Did You Know?
Africanized bees defend their turf with extreme aggression: they are not found in areas that have a hard freeze during winter but have proliferated in the South all the way from Florida into California. Whenever you come across aggressive bees, the key is not to agitate or swat them but to clear out of the area ASAP.....run. And wisest to cover your mouth and nose as the worst bee sting is one where a bee enters your nose and/or mouth to sting internally.
Did You Know?
Delinquencies in US commercial real estate credit continue to increase, with distress rising 23% to over $116 billion at the end of March from a year earlier. Policy uncertainty and debt maturities are expected to lead to a "tsunami" of problems for US offices, with investors warning of potential losses and the Federal Reserve noting delayed business decisions. (Bloomberg)
Did You Know?
Home owners, buyers and renters need to factor in rising electricity prices that rose 4.5% in the past year, nearly double the inflation rate for all goods and services. The average U.S. household paid about 17 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity in March 2025 — but ranged from a low of about 11 cents per kWh in North Dakota to about 41 cents per kWh in Hawaii. Data centers are a major contributor to greater demand for electricity, while the U.S. also has an aging infrastructure for transmission and distribution of power. Natural gas prices are up over 38% in the past year: natural gas drives approximately 40% of US electricity supply. (CNBC)
Did You Know?
While wealthy consumers remain strong, aspirationally wealthy consumers who wish to look and dress like those who are very rich are pulling back..... Luxury brands are introducing more affordable and smaller accessories to generate store traffic and counter slowing demand. Brands are using strategies such as using textiles and introducing products in cheaper categories like costume jewelry and beauty to attract younger customers. The personal luxury-goods industry is expected to shrink between 2% and 5% this year, following a loss of 50 million customers in 2023 and 2024 after steep price hikes that went well beyond higher production costs that fueled record profits. (Bloomberg)
Did You Know?
Privacy extends to flying....NetJets clients that own their own airplanes often choose to use NetJets when they want to be able to fly incognito, with no way to track who’s on board. NetJets is owned by Berkshire Hathaway. The U.S. saw over 3 million private jet flights in 2024, down from 3.1 in 2023, a 1% decline. With over 1,100 planes, NETJETS is now one of the largest airlines by plane count, and is experiencing a shortage of hanger space in areas. (CNBC)
Did You Know?
About 40 million lightning strikes hit the ground in the US every year. If you hear thunder, immediately move to a safe shelter, such as a substantial building or a hard-topped vehicle. NO place outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area. Around 300 people per year are struck by lightning in the US.
"A majority of my committee have said that they plan to cut rates before now and the end of the year."
- Jerome Powell, speaking to how the FED wants to see if the impact of tariffs on inflation is a brief, one-time event, or triggers a continuation of elevated inflation. The 10-year dipped to 4.27% yesterday, down from 4.8% in January.
Sayings of the week:
Accountability breeds responsibility.
Team work is Dream work.
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