Today’s News 7-24-2025

Metro Phoenix’s malls are transforming. Here’s how

When large-scale shopping malls were being developed, they were built in places with easy transportation access, near densely populated areas to create a built-in customer base. Online shopping, food delivery and other consumer habit changes have rendered many of the traditional indoor malls to be functionally obsolete, but their strategic locations have made those sites attractive…»

Multifamily Drives June Increase in U.S. Housing Starts

Residential construction starts increased 4.6% in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.32 million units, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau reported Friday. A 30% monthly increase in apartment starts to an annualized 438,000 units was responsible for the month-over-month gain, as single-family starts declined 4.6% from May…»

Rent Remains Unaffordable for Low-Wage Workers

The average minimum-wage worker in the United States must work 116 hours per week—nearly three full-time jobs—to afford a modest two-bedroom rental home, reports the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC). The nation’s “housing wage” has increased to $33.63 for a modest two-bedroom apartment this year, according to the organization’s latest “Out of Reach…»

Mapped: The Most Expensive U.S. Cities For Commercial Construction

It costs $534 to build a single square foot of commercial space in New York City, the most expensive place on the planet for new construction, according to Turner & Townsend. The cost of construction is expected to keep rising in 2025 — prices for commercial building materials ticked up by 0.2% in June alone. The escalating prices are widening the gap between a…»

10 best resorts in Arizona for 2025, according to Travel + Leisure

Travel + Leisure unveiled the results of its 2025 World’s Best Awards, honoring top destinations, hotels, airlines, cruise lines, and travel experiences as rated by its global audience. Now in its 30th year, the annual readers’ survey offers a snapshot of how and where people are traveling today, reflecting both long-standing favorites and emerging trends across the industry…»