The San Gabriel Valley economy is closely tied to the housing market, and recent shifts in construction and home prices are beginning to show their effects. With housing starts dipping in recent months, builders remain cautious, leading to fewer jobs in construction and slower growth in related industries. Construction slowdown affects jobs According to the…

  California’s housing market is expected to show modest growth over the next two years as lower mortgage rates and an improving affordability outlook bring stability to the state’s real estate sector. According to the latest projections, statewide sales of existing single-family homes will remain nearly unchanged in 2025, dipping just 0.1 percent to reach…

California home sales edged slightly higher in August, signaling possible improvement for the housing market after months of slowing activity. Sales of existing single-family homes across the state climbed 0.9 percent from July to reach a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 264,240 units, according to the California Association of Realtors. Despite the modest month-over-month increase,…

The Federal Reserve delivered its first rate cut of 2025 last week, trimming the federal funds rate by 25 basis points and sparking cautious optimism across financial markets. It marked the first reduction in nine months and reflects the central bank’s shift toward supporting jobs while keeping an eye on inflation. Shift in focus to…

U.S. retail sales rose steadily in August, showing consumers continued to spend even as job growth slowed. According to federal data, retail sales increased 0.6 percent from July, extending gains seen in both June and July. On a year-over-year basis, sales were up 5 percent, marking the fastest growth in four months. Back-to-school spending drives…

The El Monte-Rosemead Adult School (EMRAS) Pharmacy Technician program was in the spotlight at this week’s El Monte Union High School District board meeting. Assistant Principal Oscar Gomez and instructor Teresa Aitchison presented a report on the program’s success, joined by three students—Matthew Santiago, Maria Del Carmen Perez and Susanti K. Lie—who shared how the…

The Metro A Line extension opened four new stations on Sept. 19, 2025, bringing improved transit to local neighborhoods. The Metro A Line extension runs from Azusa to Pomona, restoring rail service east of Pasadena. Riders now have access to Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne/Fairplex and Pomona North stations. The line expansion offers faster commutes…

Mountain View High School students, staff, and the El Monte Union community celebrated the completion of the school’s Modernization Project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 9. The event highlighted major campus upgrades including classrooms, athletic facilities, redesigned landscaping and outdoor seating, and infrastructure improvements. The ceremony featured speeches from Principal Jose Bañas, Associated Student…