News
U.S. economy should ‘grow modestly’ in 2026. Here’s why, economist tells Lehigh Valley business leaders
2+ hour, 16+ min ago (760+ words) The U.S. economy is expected to grow at a rate of 2.3% in 2026, an economist from Truist bank told members of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce during its annual Economic Outlook. Speaking virtually to a sold-out audience Tuesday at ArtsQuest…...
Wall Street claws for more gains in wake of Greenland de-escalation
5+ day, 5+ hour ago (687+ words) By CHAN HO-HIM and MATT OTT, Associated Press Business Writers Wall Street was poised to open with gains Thursday, adding to the rally from a day earlier when U.S. President Donald Trump walked back his tariff threats on eight European countries…...
Average US long-term mortgage rate hits the lowest point in more than 3 years
1+ week, 5+ day ago (576+ words) The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate is now down to its lowest level in more than three years. The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate eased to 6.06% this week, down from 6.16% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year…...
A Lehigh Valley CEO has been appointed to board at Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia
1+ week, 6+ day ago (234+ words) A Lehigh Valley businessman has been appointed to the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia's board of directors. Pete Ruggiero, president and CEO of Crayola LLC, has been appointed as a Class B director. Class B directors are members of the…...
Wall Street rises on Big Tech gains and approaches records
3+ week, 3+ hour ago (325+ words) By DAMIAN J. TROISE, Associated Press Business Writer The S&P 500 added 0.4% and is sitting just below the record it set in late December. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 158 points, or 0.3%, after setting a record on Monday. The Nasdaq composite…...
Average US long-term mortgage rate falls to the lowest level of the year at 6.15%
3+ week, 5+ day ago (455+ words) By MATT OTT, AP Business Writer The average long-term mortgage rate dipped to 6.15% from 6.18% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Wednesday. That's the lowest average long-term rate since October 3, 2024 when it dipped to 6.12% before shooting back up. One year…...
Letters: Rising prices are outpacing Americans’ incomes
4+ week, 2+ day ago (571+ words) Letters: Rising prices are outpacing Americans" incomes'The Morning Call The median annual income for Americans in 2024 was about $84,000. Keep that in mind as you read the following statistics: In 2025, food price increases outpaced their 20-year average, a median home today…...
Opinion: Who owns America’s affordability problem?
1+ mon, 1+ week ago (1055+ words) Opinion: We need to spend less and enact tax policies that reduce the federal deficit. Suddenly affordability, or rather the lack thereof, has become a popular refrain. From the halls of the White House to the shores of New York…...
Average US long-term mortgage rate falls to 6.23%, ending a three-week climb
2+ mon, 1+ day ago (513+ words) The average rate on a 30-year U.S. mortgage ended a three-week streak of increases, reflecting a pullback in long-term U.S. Treasury bond yields. The average long-term mortgage rate fell to 6.23% from 6.26% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Wednesday. A year ago,…...
Average price for a new car surpasses $50,000 for first time
2+ mon, 4+ week ago (1200+ words) If you've dropped by a car lot lately and received a severe dose of sticker shock, you're not just imagining things. The average transaction price for a new vehicle in the U.S. surpassed $50,000 for the first time, according to a new…...