Monday, June 30, 2025

15% of U.S. Stock Market Investors Got Their Start in 2020

Thu, 08 April 2021  |  investing 

Amidst a global pandemic, economic uncertainties and market volatility, a new generation of investors was born: 15 percent of all current U.S. stock market investors say they first began investing in 2020, according to a new Schwab survey. And they’re not all young and focused on the next hot stock. Looking ahead, these new investors are more bullish about their financial prospects and the market than those who began investing before 2020, and they’re ready to invest and plan for their futures.

“We’ve seen tremendous growth and engagement among individual investors ove... Read More

Work From Home Drives Employee Happiness

Thu, 08 April 2021  |  pandemic workplace 

A new workplace study form Hibob shows a majority of U.S. workers' job satisfaction is back to pre-pandemic levels. With ongoing remote work, the allowance of flexible work schedules, the ability to be autonomously productive, and time saved without a commute are contributing and shaping the next normal where a hybrid working model leads the way. The study also showed that with strong job satisfaction while remote, the rollout of the vaccine will not prompt employees to run back to the office five days a week. Some even say an obligation to return to a physical workspace would push them to ... Read More

Aspiring Business Owners Increasingly Confident

Thu, 08 April 2021  |  small business 

Entrepreneurs who agree or strongly agree that "now is a good time to start a business" grew in March to 69.3% of respondents, the highest recorded since February 2020, before the pandemic became headline news. FranchiseInsights.com compiles monthly the Small Business Startup Sentiment Index™(SSI) of individuals who have recently inquired about businesses for sale.

The most recent Startup Sentiment Index^™ survey was conducted March 25-30, 2021, as news of accelerated vaccination timelines was t... Read More

U.S. Retail Sales Grew 26.3% Year-Over-Year in March

Thu, 08 April 2021  |  consumers spending 

U.S. retail sales growth rates increased by double-digits in March as we hit the one-year mark since the first Covid lockdowns impacted retail sales. According to Mastercard SpendingPulse™, U.S. retail sales excluding automotive and gasoline increased 26.3% year-over-year in March, and online sales grew 56.8% compared to 2020. Mastercard SpendingPulse measures in-store and online retail sales across all forms of payment.

Retail sales benefited from the infusion of stimulus payments, coupled with broader reopening across the country. This is particularly evident when looking at... Read More

Remote Work Continues to Drive Record Demand for Second Homes

Thu, 08 April 2021  |  pandemic housing 

The number of buyers who locked in mortgage rates for second homes shot up a record 128% year over year in March, according to a new report from Redfin. That marks the 10th straight month of 80%-plus annual growth. The year-over-year increase should be taken in context because demand for second homes was relatively weak in March 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic first hit the U.S. and real estate activity in many parts of the country temporarily halted with lockdowns.

The data in the report is based on a Redfin analysis of mortgage-rate lock data fro... Read More

Home Buyers Eager Despite Hot Market

Wed, 07 April 2021  |  housing 

The latest Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment Index^® (HPSI) reveals home buyers are still eager to buy despite a sellers' market. The HPSI increased in March by 5.2 points to 81.7. Four of the HPSI's six components increased month over month, including the components related to homebuying and home-selling conditions, household income, and home prices. The mortgage rate outlook component experienced the only decline; and the latest results indicate that only 6% of consumers believe that mortgage rates will decrease over the next 12 months. Year over year, the HPSI is up 0.9 points.... Read More