Hey Friends,
I’ve got 4 fun facts for you today. I hope you have a great weekend!
Blessings,
Andrew
Fun Fact 1:
Residents in Idaho pay the least to run their kitchen appliances while residents in Hawaii pay the most! The cost in Colorado sits just above $600 annually. (Thanks to my friend Tim for sharing!)
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) *As of May 2025
Fun Fact 2:
The US federal government spent $6.8 trillion and collected $4.9 trillion in FY 2024.
Source: USA Facts: Office of Management and Budget, Census Bureau, and Bureau of Economic Analysis
Fun Fact 3:
Gallup found that confidence in newspapers, television, and radio has fallen to 28%, the first time the measure has slipped below 30%. Meanwhile, 36% of Americans say they have “not very much” confidence, and 34% say “none at all.” Seven in ten Americans lack meaningful trust in mainstream media.
Source: Gallup
Fun Fact 4:
A week ago, the FTC sued Zillow and Redfin over a potentially illegal agreement to suppress rental advertising competition. Why is this important?
“Zillow Group, Inc., and Zillow, Inc., (Zillow) and Redfin Corporation operate two of the nation’s largest rental ILS networks by traffic and revenue, including sites such as Zillow Rentals, Rent.com, and ApartmentGuide.com. The complaint alleges that in February 2025, Zillow and Redfin entered into an illegal agreement to dismantle Redfin as a competitor in the ILS advertising market for multifamily rental properties. In exchange for a $100 million payment and other compensation from Zillow, the complaint alleges, Redfin agreed:
1: To end its contracts with advertising customers and help Zillow take over that business,
2: To stop competing in the advertising market for multifamily properties for up to nine years, and
3: To serve merely as an exclusive syndicator of Zillow listings, making Redfin sites effectively a copy of the listings that appear on Zillow’s sites.
Zillow and Redfin framed their agreement as a “partnership,” but in reality the arrangement is an end run around competition that insulates Zillow from competing head-to-head on the merits with Redfin, the complaint states. In connection with the agreement, Redfin fired hundreds of employees, then helped Zillow to hire its pick of those terminated workers.
Commentary: This will be interesting to track, especially with the recent government shut down.
Source: The Federal Trade Commission
Quote I’m pondering:
“If you would be wealthy, think of saving as well as getting.” —Benjamin Franklin
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Disclaimer: All information provided is for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal or tax advice, an offer to buy or sell any security, or to buy or sell real estate property. Read our full disclosures HERE.