Record-breaking: With high temperatures eclipsing 90 degrees every day so far this month, and above-average temperatures expected to continue, the Baton Rouge area will likely set its hottest September on record, WBRZ-TV reports. In addition to weeks of higher than usual temperatures, the Baton Rouge airport weather station has only recorded one day of rain so far as the area heads into the dryest time of year. Read the full story.
New construction: The pace of U.S. home construction jumped 12.3% last month to a 12-year high on a surge in apartments building. The Commerce Department said this morning that housing starts came in at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.36 million, the most since June 2007 and up from a revised 1.22 million, as builders overcame a shortage of skilled workers and available land. Read the full report.
Retail: This morning, Walmart and Capital One announced the Sept. 24 launch of the Capital One Walmart Rewards Credit Card Program with two new cards offering up to 5% back on Walmart purchases. The new credit card aims to change the way retail credit cards operate by providing more perks if the card is used on mobile payments, rather than in-person, much like the new Apple credit card. See the companies’ announcement.
