Workers that live in rural parts of Arkansas make less than those in urban areas, have a harder time finding better paying jobs, and these are key factors in an eroding tax base in many parts of the state, according to the Rural Profile of Arkansas, a new report produced by the University of Arkansas. […]
Continue ReadingNew-home sales show housing ready for rescue role
Sales of new houses in August rose to 1.001 million at a seasonally adjusted and annualized pace, the Commerce Department said on Thursday – the first time the number has broken 1 million in 14 years. The number shows that while other sectors of the economy are soft, housing is ready to play its traditional […]
Continue ReadingFed releases proposal to reform CRA
The Federal Reserve approved a revamp of the anti-redlining rules known as the Community Reinvestment Act, or CRA, in a live-streamed meeting on Monday morning and gave 120 days for community and industry feedback. The move comes four months after Joseph Otting, head of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, stepped down […]
Continue ReadingChina’s Digital Wallets Offer a Glimpse at the Future of Payments
Chinese consumers conduct 11 times more mobile payments than their counterparts in the United States, so as we look to the future of digital wallets, China is a natural place to start. Forecasts for mobile payment adoption in the United States remain flat for now; however, two major brands – WeChat and AliPay – offer […]
Continue ReadingTrump signs stimulus bill: Here’s what you need to know
President Donald Trump on Sunday officially signed the second COVID-19 relief and government stimulus bill, after a back-and-forth with Congress on the amount of money that will be sent directly to consumers. The $2.3 trillion bill gives $600 in direct payments to each adult making less than $75,000, with a reduced amount for those making […]
Continue ReadingWarren Stephens on capitalism, market ups and downs, and a new healthcare paradigm
Stephens Inc. CEO Warren Stephens continues to expand his “This is Capitalism” video series, a digital effort he started to respond to the 2016 Presidential election cycle. Stephens said he was alarmed by how well Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., a declared socialist, did in the race and wanted to remind younger voters that capitalism has […]
Continue ReadingWhy CAR campaigned for California’s Proposition 19
The passage of Proposition 19 in California — which will generate wildfire relief funds while providing tax breaks for senior citizens — was a victory for the California Association of Realtors, which lobbied for its passage and put real dollars behind the effort. The bill is expected to add $2 billion to California’s coffers […]
Continue ReadingSmall businesses to see smaller share of tax cuts, trucking group praises House plan
The U.S. Senate might vote on tax reform later this week, but the U.S. House of Representative’s tax plan that recently passed might not mean as much for small businesses as compared to larger corporations. Yet, the House plan has the support of trade organization American Trucking Associations, which recently praised approval of the plan. […]
Continue ReadingTyson Foods to mark 83 years with record share price, sustained growth
Springdale-based Tyson Foods will hold its annual shareholder meeting Thursday (Feb. 8) morning at its new offices on Emma Avenue in downtown Springdale – near the spot where the company was once headquartered. Investors and company execs have plenty to celebrate behind CEO Tom Hayes’ first year at the helm. It’s the 83rd birthday for […]
Continue ReadingAre Millennials More Entrepreneurial Than Previous Generations?
The relationship between millennials and the concept of “entrepreneurship” is nuanced and complex. Millennials clearly value entrepreneurship, and 67% of this group says that their goals involve eventually starting a business. Statistics show that millennials are always “on”, motivated to make a difference, and consider flexible hours to be a key to boosting productivity. Unfortunately, […]
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