Things To Do In SW Florida

By ALEX VEIGA, Associated Press Business Writer

The U.S. housing market slump dragged into its fourth year in 2025 as sales remained stuck at a 30-year low with rising home prices and elevated mortgage rates keeping many prospective home shoppers out of the market.

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Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes totaled 4.06 million last year, flat versus 2024, when sales sank to the lowest level since 1995, the National Association of Realtors said Wednesday. Sales have declined on annual basis every year since 2022.

The median national home price for all of last year rose 1.7% to $414,400, the NAR said. read more

By Todd Woody, Bloomberg News

The elimination of U.S. tax credits for residential heat pumps, solar panels and batteries will make electrifying your home more expensive in 2026, and tariffs and made-in-America mandates could add additional costs.

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Just how pricey remains to be seen. New financing models could help keep some solar and battery costs in check, according to Emily Walker, director of insights at online solar marketplace EnergySage.

Here’s what you need to know.

The tax credit repeal’s impact on prices

The expiration of the 30% federal tax credit for solar and battery installations at the end of 2025 doesn’t necessarily make the equipment more costly to buy but for homeowners with a tax liability, it does end the ability to reduce or erase their tax bill. A typical solar and battery system generated tax credits worth about $10,000. read more

By STAN CHOE, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes are falling on Wednesday following mixed profit reports from several big banks.

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The S&P 500 sank 1% and was on track for a second straight loss after setting its all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 248 points, or 0.5%, as of 11 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 1.5% lower.

Wells Fargo helped pull the market lower after falling 4.5%. The San Francisco-based bank reported weaker profit and revenue for the latest quarter than expected, with analysts citing lower trading fees and other miscellaneous items. read more

SpaceX is starting to get the ball rolling on its Florida launch card with its fourth mission of the year.

A Falcon 9 on the Starlink 6-98 mission with 29 Starlink satellites is targeting liftoff at 1:08 p.m. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40 during a launch window from 1:01-5:01 p.m.

This will be the 13th flight of the first-stage booster, which will aim for a recovery landing downrange on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas stationed in the Atlantic.

Space Launch Delta 45’s weather squadron forecasts only a 40% chance for good conditions because of threats from thick clouds and cumulus cloud rule violations.

“A complex weather pattern will bring periods of impactful weather to the Spaceport on Wednesday and Thursday. The boundary that pushed through central Florida on Sunday is expected to move back over the region and linger until Wednesday afternoon when the next low-pressure system pushes it eastward,” the squadron posted on its forecast.

Chances improve to 75% if delayed until Thursday. read more

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO and ELAINE KURTENBACH, Associated Press

The owner of Saks Fifth Avenue is seeking bankruptcy protection, buffeted by rising competition and the massive debt it took on to buy its rival in the luxury sector, Neiman Marcus, just over a year ago.

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Saks Global has secured roughly $1.75 billion in financing, the New York company said as filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Wednesday in the Southern District of Texas.

The private company said that stores will remain open as it restructures company debt, meaning that it will honor the programs it has for customers. Suppliers and employees will be paid, Saks said. read more