This is CBSI on the world.

I'm John Batchel.

Small business.

The business of America's small business.

I welcome Jean Marks.

My small business is guru.

He writes for the Guardian newspaper, UK and US edition.

Our hometown newspaper, the Philadelphia Inquirer and other distinguished publications.

We're looking for the same thing the Federal Reserve is looking for. either a slowdown or a speed up or something out of the ordinary.

With the turmoil of the tariffs unresolved, especially so after two courts have handed off a tie,

we look at home sales.

Gene and I talked about home sales a week past.

Gene, I keep watch on the beautiful estate down the road for me with a sale sign from

a Sotheby's, not moving.

Now, that's the kind of estate that you buy for a second home and you pay cash.

And yet, no takers.

Something's off, Gene. Now now we had a good number from inflation

today there'll be other good numbers what is your measure of what the federal reserve is waiting

for about home sales well the federal reserve is waiting for a lot of things other than you know

just not just home sales john and uh the real estate estate market is on edge and waiting for some help on mortgage rates.

I mean, just to throw out a few numbers at you.

I mean, pending home sales, you know, these are like existing sales that are out there for existing homes.

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