* New York City’s tax revenue generated by tourists surpassed pre-pandemic levels as a jump in US visitors helped offset a drop in international and business travel. (Bloomberg)
“I think an embarrassing amount of how well you do, particularly in your 20s, has to do with attitude.” It’s not just about being cheerful. Having a positive attitude means you work well on a team and honor deadlines, among other strengths.
- Andy Jassy, CEO,AMAZON
* Pine boards have tumbled from their pandemic highs to trade this spring at some of the lowest prices in nearly a decade. Sawmills are now curtailing production to boost pricing. (WSJ)
* 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 - Luxury market is lifting the whole market, starter and one bedroom seem to be moving slower. Number of price reductions is startling and it appears sellers are starting to listen to both the buyer’s and the interest rate. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐄𝐓 𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐘𝐒𝐈𝐒!
* Mansion: A Hedge Funder’s Private Island Off the Connecticut Coast Lists for $35 Million- The roughly 7.5-acre property in Long Island Sound has multiple houses, including a main house, artist’s studio and pool house. (WSJ)
* Americans say real estate is the best long-term investment in 2024, followed by stocks and gold, the 12th year in a row that respondents have ranked real estate as the top long-term investment, although fewer think so now compared to just a few years ago. (GALLUP)
* Assisted living costs have soared 53% in the past 10 years in the US - not just during the high inflation period of 2020-2023 - with costs rising 30% between 2012 and 2020, pre-COVID. Inflation is nothing new - especially in healthcare - but has been much higher in the past 3-4 years. Labor costs are driving this, but rising insurance costs may be more to blame in some areas. (BLOOMBERG)
* Prime property prices — defined as the top 5% of the market — fell more than 2% in New York and London in the first quarter compared to the same period a year ago, while in Manila, Tokyo and Mumbai, luxury home prices surged, gaining 27%, 13% and 12%, respectively. Miami was up 7% and San Francisco up 2%. (Bloomberg)
* Texas is leading the US in green energy production: In March this year, for the first time Texas generated more electricity from solar power than from coal. When the latest batch of solar plants come online, Texas will have added more solar capacity per capita in a single year than any US state and any country in the world. (FT)
* Many owners of homes bought since 2019 with an adjustable-rate mortgage are about to exit their fixed period, with some facing a $1,000-a-month jump. Some 70% are worried about payments and almost 1 in 10 think they might delay—or even default—on their mortgage once it adjusts. (Bloomberg)
* Seychelles is making a bid to become the most exclusive vacation destination in the Indian Ocean. The 115-island archipelago aims to tighten tourism and attract big spenders with $3,000-a-night hotels. (Bloomberg)
* EV fans in rural and less populated US states are struggling to find anything to buy, with almost one-third of new electric vehicles going to one of three states: California, Florida or Texas. (Bloomberg)
* Panda diplomacy. A pair of giant pandas will arrive in Washington from China by the end of the year. Bao Li and Qing Bao, both 2 years old, will be on loan through April 2034. They—and any potential offspring—will remain Chinese property. (Bloomberg)
* Yes, Walmart store managers really can make $500,000 a year now. In an effort to boost retention, the retailer has sweetened pay and stock incentives for its store chiefs, whose individual locations employ hundreds and can exceed $100 million in annual sales. (Bloomberg)
* The first new PTSD drug in over twenty years is up for approval. But it’ll require US regulators to do something they’ve never done before: greenlight the mind-altering—and illegal—party drug known as ecstasy. (Bloomberg)
* Don’t Be Fooled by a Pretty Bottle. 6 Rosés That Actually Live Up to Their Flamboyant Designs. In a slowing rosé market, ever wilder shapes of bottle are working overtime to catch consumers’ eyes. Our wine columnist found 6 rosés as pleasurable to drink as their bottles are to look at. (WSJ)