Posts by Elizabeth
Birth Rates are Falling Most Where Homes are Appreciating Fastest, According to Zillow
The rate of babies being born is dropping the most in counties where home values are appreciating the fastest, according to a new analysis from online real estate company Zillow. An extra 10 percentage-point rise in home values is associated with an extra 1.5 percentage-point drop in birth rates for 25-to-29 year old women. The…
Read MoreCouples Will Spend Two Years’ Worth of Rent to Pay for their Wedding, HotPads Finds
Let this sink in: The average cost of a wedding was $36,000 in 2017. According to apartment and home search platform HotPads, this equates to around two years\’ worth of rent. When planning a wedding, many couples face sticker shock at the price of venues, caterers, rings, photographers and other day-of essentials. The average cost…
Read MoreA Stellar Jobs Report, Almost
The May employment report is very very good. In fact, it\’s nearly perfect. According to the report, the economy added 223,000 jobs in May. This was more than the 190,000 that economists and Wall Street analysts had been expecting. May marked the 92nd consecutive month of job growth in the economy. That sets a record.…
Read MoreConfidence Index Rose Further in May
Consumer confidence is on an upward trend, and this a good thing for a consumer-driven economy like ours. The Conference Board reports that its Consumer Confidence Index increased in May, following a modest decline in April (after a downward revision). The Index now stands at 128.0 (1985=100), up from 125.6 in April. The Present Situation Index…
Read MoreStrong Demand Pushes Up New York City Rents, According to StreetEasy
If you live anywhere other than New York City and think you pay a lot in rent, read on. This story may actually make you feel better. Ahead of peak rental season, apartment shoppers can expect to see slightly higher rent prices than last year, particularly in areas with lower-priced homes, according to New York City…
Read MoreWhen Lenders Use Alternative Credit Data, More Consumers Are Approved
Most lenders use standard credit report data to approve, or deny, consumers credit. The problem is, some perfectly credit-worthy people get left out in the cold. A new study sheds light on some new solutions. Credit bureau Experian, at its 37th annual Vision Conference, announced the launch of its first-ever State of Alternative Credit Data report, examining lender…
Read MoreMillennials are Better Prepared for Retirement than Their Parents, According to J.D. Power Study
“Best prepared for retirement.” That’s not a superlative one might expect to describe Millennials, but according to the J.D. Power 2018 Group Retirement Satisfaction Study, it’s true. Millennials are most likely of all demographic groups to have set specific retirement goals and have the highest amount of savings-relative to age-in group retirement plans. The inaugural study…
Read MoreChildren and Swimming: Pool-Safe Does Not Equal Open-Water Safe
Many children learn to swim in pools. This is good, but it doesn\’t exactly prepare them for the challenges of swimming in open water, according to Safe Kids Worldwide. As summer swimming season kicks off this Memorial Day weekend, Safe Kids Worldwide and Nationwide’s Make Safe Happen program are releasing a new report highlighting the…
Read MoreHome Values Rise at Fastest Pace in 12 Years, According to Zillow
National median home values are rising at their fastest pace in 12 years, according to the April Zillow Real Estate Market Report. Over the past year, home values across the country rose 8.7 percent to a median value of $215,600. Home values have not appreciated this quickly since June 2006, right before the housing bubble bust, when they were…
Read MoreMore Than 1 in 3 Healthcare Organizations Have Suffered a Cyberattack, According to Imperva Survey
More than one in three healthcare organizations have suffered a cyberattack within the last year, while almost one in 10 have paid a ransom or extortion fee, according to the results of a survey from cybersecurity solutions provider Imperva. That\’s right: nearly 10% of healthcare providers have paid off cyber thieves who were holding valuable…
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