Texas manufacturing falls
Texas factory activity dropped in December after a November increase, according to the latest analysis from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
The Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey' production index fell 24 points to -3.2, "indicating a slight decline in output," according to the Dallas Fed. The closely watched index measures the Lone Star State's manufacturing conditions.
Measures of new orders and capacity utilization also declined in December, while the shipments index dropped to the lowest reading in 17 months, according to the Dallas Fed. Still, survey respondents expect increased manufacturing activity six months from now.
Homebuilder considers expansions
Homebuilder Dream Finders Homes made two acquisitions during 2025 and says it remains "opportunistic" on future deals.
In a letter to shareholders, Chairman and CEO Patrick Zalupski said the company can make a compelling case to other builders looking to sell. "Having been a private business for over 11 years, we have a unique perspective of challenges and constraints," the letter stated.
Jacksonville, Florida-based Dream Finders was the 14th-largest U.S. homebuilder based on 8,583 sales last year, according to Builder magazine.
In May, Dream Finders acquired Green River Builders to increase its presence in the Atlanta metropolitan area. In January, it acquired Liberty Communities that built in Atlanta and Greenville, South Carolina.
Zalupski led a group that finalized the purchase of the MLB Tampa Bay Rays in September for about $1.7 billion.
Costs of necessities increase
Middle-income consumers paid 3.3% more for necessities in November than a year earlier, though household budgets are holding steady, according to a new report.
The Primerica Household Budget Index posted an estimated reading of 100.7% last month, up 0.2% from October and from the same period in the prior year. Readings greater than 100% indicate households may have extra money left over at the end of the month for discretionary spending, the index states.
The index looks at food, gas, auto insurance, utilities and health care to track how inflation and wages affect middle-income families' purchasing power. Duluth, Georgia-based Primerica, a financial products and services provider, said it created the metric "to fill an information void" on the economic effects of middle-income families.