The construction industry has been resilient through the pandemic even as it confronts shortages of workers and raw materials, and rising inflation. But these challenges will pale in comparison to the ones that contractors will face as nations race to meet aggressive goals in reducing carbon emissions. … READ MORE >
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Consumer products holiday season countdown: Where will they shop?
As we move closer to Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the traditional peak holiday season, where will consumers complete their shopping? … READ MORE >
Chart of the day: Home affordability continues to drop
Strong homebuyer demand and limited housing supply have continued to push median sales prices for existing single-family homes higher across the United States. … READ MORE >
Chart of the day: Jobless claims approach pre-pandemic level
Claims for jobless benefits continued to signal a steady bounce back of the labor market as new filings declined to a pandemic low of 267,000 for the week ending Nov. 6. … READ MORE >
U.S. inflation reached a three-decade high in October
Inflation continued to surge in October, mostly on the back of seasonal influences that boosted the cost of energy, transportation and food, and sending the consumer price index up by 6.2% on an annual basis, a three-decade high. … READ MORE >
5 things to know in life sciences: Week of November 1
From drug pricing reform to the growth of virtual trial companies, each week we highlight five things to know in the life sciences industry. … READ MORE >
Chart of the day: Producer prices rise as cost pressures mount
The producer price index inched up 0.6% in October with about a third of the increase coming from higher gasoline prices. … READ MORE >
As world moves to renewable energy, storage looms as a major hurdle
It’s little mystery that wind and solar power will be a significant part of the answer. Yet even as their costs of production have plummeted, storage capacity will stand in the way of their widespread adoption. … READ MORE >
Chart of the day: Pricing in the December debt cliff
Despite the recent legislative passage of a 10-year infrastructure investment plan, Congress and the Biden administration are no closer to an agreement on lifting the debt ceiling. … READ MORE >
Carbon pricing—in the spotlight at COP26—could mean big shifts for global trade
Though long touted by economists as the solution to reduce carbon emissions and tackle climate change, carbon pricing has for years been mostly abstract. Discussions at COP26, however, indicate the textbook solution might soon become a reality for more than a few select countries and industries. … READ MORE >