Technology

CALIFORNIA, NEW JERSEY AND ILLINOIS STILL FACING HIGHER RISK OF HOUSING MARKET DECLINE

Published

2 years ago

March 7, 2024

New York City and Chicago Areas More Exposed to Market Downturns; At-Risk Locations Have Weaker Affordability, Foreclosure, Underwater and Job Numbers; Lower Risk Again Mainly Spread Across Southern and Midwestern Regions

IRVINE, Calif., March 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — ATTOM, a leading curator of land, property, and real estate data, today released a Special Housing Risk Report spotlighting county-level housing markets around the United States that are more or less vulnerable to declines, based on home affordability, underwater mortgages and other measures in the fourth quarter of 2023. The report shows that California, New Jersey and Illinois continue to have the highest concentrations of the most-at-risk markets in the country, with some of the biggest clusters in the New York City and Chicago areas, along with inland California. Less-vulnerable markets are spread mainly throughout the South and Midwest.

The fourth-quarter patterns – derived from gaps in home affordability, underwater mortgages, foreclosures and unemployment – revealed that California, New Jersey and Illinois had 34 of the 50 counties considered most vulnerable to potential drop-offs. As with earlier periods over the past few years, those concentrations dwarfed other parts of the country, with the latest coming at a time of significant market uncertainty connected to increasingly unaffordable home ownership costs and relatively high home-mortgage interest rates.

The 50 counties on the most-exposed list included six in and around New York City, five in the Chicago metropolitan area and 14 in areas of California away from the Pacific coast. The rest were scattered around other parts of the country.

At the other end of the risk spectrum, the Midwest and South again had the most markets considered least likely to decline, including nine in Wisconsin and five in Kansas.

“Fault lines running through the foundation of the U.S. housing market continue to appear in different parts of the country, with some areas remaining more or less vulnerable than others,” said Rob Barber, CEO at ATTOM. “As always, this is not a warning sign for homeowners to run out and sell, or rush to buy, in any specific market. The housing market remains strong throughout most of the country despite some recent small downturns. Rather, this report again spotlights areas that appear more or less exposed to a market fall, should that start to happen, based on key measures.”

Counties were considered more or less at risk based on the percentage of homes facing possible foreclosure, the portion with mortgage balances that exceeded estimated property values, the percentage of average local wages required to pay for major home ownership expenses on median-priced single-family homes and local unemployment rates. The conclusions were drawn from an analysis of the most recent home affordability, home equity and foreclosure reports prepared by ATTOM. Unemployment rates came from federal government data. Rankings were based on a combination of those four categories in 580 counties around the United States with sufficient data to analyze in the fourth quarter of 2023. Counties were ranked in each category, from lowest to highest, with the overall conclusion based on a combination of the four ranks. See below for the full methodology.

The ongoing risk disparities throughout the country persisted in the fourth quarter of 2023 as key market measures tracked downward and home ownership remained a financial stretch across much of the nation.

The national median home price was flat during the Summer of last year and dropped 3 percent in the Fall after a springtime surge stalled out. Declining prices in late 2023 slightly deflated homeowner equity and raised underwater mortgage rates. But even as values dipped a bit, home affordability continued to consume at least a third of average local wages in most of the U.S., putting the nation’s 12-year housing market boom at risk.

Chicago and New York City metro areas face greater risk along with wide swaths of California
The metropolitan areas around Chicago, IL, and New York, NY, as well as a stretch of inland California, had 25 of the 50 U.S. counties considered most vulnerable in the fourth quarter of 2023 to housing market troubles (from among 580 counties with enough data to analyze).

The 50 most at-risk counties included one in New York City (Kings County, which covers Brooklyn), five in the New York City suburbs (Essex, Ocean, Passaic, Sussex and Union counties, all in New Jersey) and five in the Chicago metropolitan area (De Kalb, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties).

The 14 located across inland California were Butte County (Chico), Sacramento County, El Dorado County (outside Sacramento) and Solano County (outside Sacramento) in the northern part of the state, and Fresno County, Kern County (Bakersfield), Kings County (outside Fresno), Madera County (outside Fresno), Merced County (outside Fresno), San Joaquin County (Stockton), Stanislas County (Modesto) and Tulare County (outside Fresno) in central California. Two others, Riverside County and San Bernardino County, were in southern California.

Elsewhere, the top-50 list included two in the Philadelphia, PA, metro area (Camden and Gloucester counties in New Jersey) and two near St. Louis, MO (Saint Clair and Madison counties in Illinois).

Counties more vulnerable to declines have less-affordable homes as well as higher levels of underwater mortgages, foreclosures and unemployment
Major home-ownership costs (mortgage payments, property taxes and insurance) on median-priced single-family homes consumed more than one-third of average local wages in 43 of the 50 counties that were considered most vulnerable to market drop-offs in the fourth quarter of 2023. Nationwide, major expenses on typical homes sold in the fourth quarter required 33.7 percent of average local wages – almost exactly one-third.

The highest percentages in the 50 most at-risk markets were in Kings County (Brooklyn), NY (114 percent of average local wages needed for major ownership costs); Riverside County, CA (74.2 percent); El Dorado County, CA (outside Sacramento) (73.7 percent); Contra Costa County, CA (outside Oakland) (67.2 percent) and Passaic County, NJ (outside New York City) (67.1 percent).

At least 5 percent of residential mortgages were underwater in the fourth quarter of 2023 in 36 of the 50 most-at-risk counties. Nationwide, 6.1 percent of mortgages fell into that category, with homeowners owing more on their mortgages than the estimated value of their properties. Those with the highest underwater rates among the 50 most at-risk counties were Tangipahoa Parish, LA (east of Baton Rouge) (22.8 percent underwater); Saint Clair County, IL (outside St. Louis, MO) (17.4 percent); Montgomery County (Clarksville), TN (15.5 percent); Hardin County, KY (outside Louisville) (15.5 percent) and Madison County, IL (outside St. Louis, MO) (14.6 percent).

More than one of every 1,000 properties faced a foreclosure action in the fourth quarter of 2023 in 36 of the 50 most vulnerable counties. Nationwide, one in 1,503 homes were in that position.

The highest foreclosure rates among the top 50 counties were in Cumberland County (Vineland), NJ, (one in 456 properties facing possible foreclosure); Sussex County, NJ (outside New York City) (one in 540); Camden County, NJ (outside Philadelphia, PA) (one in 565); Madison County, IL (outside St. Louis, MO) (one in 575) and Madera County, CA (outside Fresno) (one in 597).

The November unemployment rate was at least 4 percent in 39 of the 50 most at-risk counties, while the nationwide figure stood at 3.7 percent. The highest rates in the top 50 counties were all in central California: Tulare County, CA (outside Fresno) (10.2 percent); Merced County, CA (outside Fresno) (8.5 percent); Kings County, CA (outside Fresno) (8 percent); Kern County (Bakersfield), CA (7.8 percent) and Fresno County, CA (7.6 percent).

Counties least at risk concentrated in South and Midwest
Twenty-five of the 50 counties considered least vulnerable to housing-market problems from among the 580 included in the fourth-quarter report were in the Midwest and 14 were in the South. Nine were in the Northeast while just two were in the West.

Wisconsin had nine of the 50 least at-risk counties in the fourth quarter: Brown County (Green Bay), Outagamie County (outside Green Bay), Dane County (Madison), Rock County (outside Madison), Eau Claire County, La Crosse County, Marathon County (Wausau), Washington County (outside Milwaukee) and Winnebago County (Oshkosh).

Another five were in Kansas, all in or near Kansas City, Topeka and Wichita: Wyandotte County (Kansas City), Johnson County (Overland Park), Shawnee County (Topeka), Douglas County (outside Topeka) and Sedgwick County (Wichita).

Less-vulnerable counties have better affordability along with other more favorable measures
Major ownership costs on median-priced single-family homes required more than one-third of average local wages in 31 of the 50 counties that were considered least vulnerable to market problems in the fourth quarter of 2023 (compared to 43 of the most at-risk).

The highest levels were in Gallatin County (Bozeman), MT (76.8 percent of average local wages needed for major ownership costs); Washington County, RI (outside Providence) (74.6 percent); Forsyth County GA (outside Atlanta) (66.2 percent); Williamson County, TN (outside Nashville) (62.2 percent) and Loudoun County, VA (outside Washington, DC) (59.3 percent).

Less than 5 percent of residential mortgages were underwater in the fourth quarter of 2023 (with owners owing more than their properties were worth) in 39 of the 50 least-at-risk counties. Those with the lowest rates were Williamson County, TN (outside Nashville) (1.6 percent underwater); Loudoun County, VA (outside Washington, DC) (1.8 percent); Washington County, RI (outside Providence) (1.8 percent); Forsyth County GA (outside Atlanta) (2 percent) and Hillsborough County (Manchester), NH (2 percent).

More than one in 1,000 properties faced a foreclosure action during the fourth quarter of 2023 in none of the 50 least-at-risk counties. Those with the lowest rates were Johnson County (Overland Park), KS (one in 49,771 properties facing possible foreclosure); Wyandotte County (Kansas City), KS (one in 17,086); La Crosse County, WI (one in 13,056); Williamson County, TN (outside Nashville) (one in 12,677) and Dane County (Madison), WI (one in 11,176).

The November 2023 unemployment rate was less than 3 percent in 45 of the 50 least-at-risk counties. The lowest rates among those counties were in Cass County (Fargo), ND (1.3 percent); Olmsted County (Rochester), MN (1.4 percent); Howard County, MD (outside Baltimore) (1.4 percent); Minnehaha County (Sioux Falls), SD (1.6 percent) and Stearns County (St. Cloud), MN (1.8 percent).

Report methodology
The ATTOM Special Coronavirus Market Impact Report is based on ATTOM’s fourth-quarter 2023 foreclosure, home affordability and underwater property reports, plus November 2023 unemployment figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Press releases for affordability, foreclosure and underwater-property reports show the methodology for each.) Counties with sufficient data to analyze were ranked based on the fourth-quarter percentage of properties with a foreclosure filing, the percentage of average local wages needed to afford the major expenses of owning a median-priced home and the percentage of properties with outstanding mortgage balances that exceeded their estimated market values, along with November 2023 county unemployment rates. Ranks then were added up to develop a composite ranking across all four categories. Equal weight was given to each category. Counties with the lowest composite rank were considered most vulnerable to housing market problems. Those with the highest composite rank were considered least vulnerable.

About ATTOM
ATTOM provides premium property data to power products that improve transparency, innovation, efficiency, and disruption in a data-driven economy. ATTOM multi-sources property tax, deed, mortgage, foreclosure, environmental risk, natural hazard, and neighborhood data for more than 155 million U.S. residential and commercial properties covering 99 percent of the nation’s population. A rigorous data management process involving more than 20 steps validates, standardizes, and enhances the real estate data collected by ATTOM, assigning each property record with a persistent, unique ID — the ATTOM ID. The 30TB ATTOM Data Warehouse fuels innovation in many industries including mortgage, real estate, insurance, marketing, government and more through flexible data delivery solutions that include ATTOM Cloud, bulk file licenses, property data APIs, real estate market trends, property navigator and more. Also, introducing our newest innovative solution, making property data more readily accessible and optimized for AI applications– AI-Ready Solutions.

Media Contact:
Megan Hunt
megan.hunt@attomdata.com

Data and Report Licensing:
datareports@attomdata.com

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SOURCE ATTOM

Technology

Mouser Electronics Explores How Artificial Intelligence Shapes Everyday Technologies and Experiences

Published

55 minutes ago

April 20, 2026

SHANGHAI, April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Mouser Electronics, Inc., the authorized global distributor with the newest electronic components and industrial automation products, today announced the first 2026 installment of its Empowering Innovation Together (EIT) technology series, Engineering AI for Daily Life. This installment explores how artificial intelligence is increasingly embedded in everyday products and services, from assisted search and messaging tools to healthcare wearables that monitor personal well-being. As AI capabilities expand across consumer and connected devices, engineers continue to design systems that make these technologies more useful, intuitive, and trustworthy in real-world applications.

“AI is quickly moving from experimental technology into products people rely on every day, and engineers play a major role in shaping how it’s applied,” said Jeff Newell, President of Mouser Electronics. “As AI becomes embedded across consumer devices and connected systems, it’s important that these technologies are designed to support human expertise while remaining reliable and trustworthy. This EIT segment helps engineers explore the tools and insights they need to build the next generation of AI-enabled solutions.”

As AI agents and intelligent tools become integrated into homes, connected devices, and digital services, engineers are developing systems that enhance user judgment and keep users in control while maintaining transparency and privacy. New AI-powered platforms already demonstrate this potential – turning simple conversations into complete travel itineraries or providing deeper health insights through connected devices.

On The Tech Between Us podcast, Raymond Yin, Director of Technical Content at Mouser Electronics, and Dr. Marisa Tschopp, Senior Researcher at scip AG in Zurich, examine the new role of AI in human interaction and day-to-day experiences. They explore how AI advancements shape technology-enabled collaboration, including the long-term impact of daily integration and applications for mental health.

“AI is moving beyond experimental settings into the products people rely on every day,” said Yin. “Our first EIT navigates the next era in AI innovation, looking at how to use the technology to enhance people’s abilities and rethink how we can live for the better.”

In addition to the podcast, the EIT series includes an in-depth video, technical articles, a topic-related infographic, as well as subscriber-exclusive content, diving into everyday AI. By examining the range of cases where AI can level up technical expertise, engineers can build a class of tools to help reshape how people think, decide, and create while protecting privacy and control.

Established in 2015, Mouser’s Empowering Innovation Together program is one of the electronic component industry’s most recognized educational programs. To learn more, visit https://www.mouser.com/empowering-innovation/engineering-ai-daily/ and follow Mouser on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.

For more Mouser news and our latest new product introductions, visit https://www.mouser.com/newsroom/.

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Technology

The Global Economy Could Split in Very Different Directions by 2050

Published

55 minutes ago

April 20, 2026

Research from the BCG Henderson Institute Details Four Plausible Scenarios for the World over the Next 25 Years, Based on Analysis of More Than 100 Megatrends and a Century of Historical Data

BOSTON, April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The global economy could follow markedly different paths over the next 25 years. For business leaders, the challenge is how to make decisions today while preparing for a wide range of possible futures.

New Scenarios 2050 research from the BCG Henderson Institute (BHI), Boston Consulting Group’s think tank, anticipates four distinct futures that push boundaries but remain plausible. The report explores what each scenario could mean for businesses and how early signals may indicate which direction the world is heading.

Among the findings:

Global GDP growth could slow to about 1.8% or rise to 5.0% annually, with the economy reaching anywhere from 1.6 to 3.4 times today’s size.Global trade could fall to about 35% of GDP—roughly Cold War–era levels—or remain near current levels of about 60%.Defense spending could climb to as much as 7% of global GDP.Low-carbon electricity could account for 55% to 90% of power generation.

The report, Beyond Tomorrow: Four Scenarios for the World of 2050, is based on a century of historical data and analysis of more than 100 megatrends across technology, geopolitics, climate, society, and economics.

“The decisions made in the next 5 years will shape the next 25,” said Nikolaus Lang, global leader of the BCG Henderson Institute and a coauthor of the report. “Too often, the future is framed in extremes—either collapse or abundance. In reality, leaders need to be ready for a range of outcomes and make decisions that hold up across very different conditions.”

Four Plausible Futures Leaders Should Plan For

Each scenario presents a different operating environment for businesses, reflecting the range of conditions leaders may face.

Scenario 1: AI Abundance. Global cooperation on AI standards leads to faster productivity growth, wider access to technology, and abundant low-carbon energy:

Global GDP more than triples, growing by about 5% annually from 2025 to 2050—the highest level across BHI’s four plausible scenarios.Average working hours fall by about 25%, with four- or even three-day workweeks becoming common in some regions.AI-supported advances in new materials and carbon removal put the world on a delayed but credible path to net zero emissions.

Scenario 2: Battling Blocs. Geopolitical tensions divide the world into competing blocs, reducing cooperation and reshaping global trade:

Global trade falls to about 35% of global GDP, down from 57% in 2024—reversing decades of globalization.Defense spending rises to about 7% of global GDP, the highest across BHI’s four scenarios, as countries prioritize security and self-sufficiency.Global GDP growth slows to about 1.8% annually, the lowest across the four scenarios, underpinned by government spending on national security, pensions, and climate mitigation.

Scenario 3: Climate Coalition. A series of extreme weather events in the late 2020s push governments, industries, and consumers to prioritize climate resilience, accelerating the shift to low-carbon energy and infrastructure:

Global warming stabilizes at about 1.8°C.Carbon markets expand globally, with most major economies participating by 2040.The share of fossil fuels in the energy mix falls from 81% today to 35% in 2050, while electricity is generated almost entirely from low-carbon sources.Global GDP growth averages about 2.5% annually, reflecting a focus on the climate transition, slower population growth, and aging societies.

Scenario 4: Digital Darwinism. Rapid technological progress continues under limited regulation, driving strong growth while concentrating wealth and power among leading companies and tech-rich nations:

Global GDP grows at 4% per year, resulting in a near tripling of GDP.The richest 1% holds nearly half of global wealth, while the middle class continues to shrink.Gig-style and short-term contract work expands as AI and automation displace routine knowledge work.Defense spending rises to about 4% of GDP, up from 2.4% in 2024, as the global order becomes more fragmented. At the same time, global trade and supply chains remain open, driven by commercial interests.

What Leaders Can Do Now

Across all four scenarios, the report highlights “low regret” moves that make sense for business leaders today, including:

Enhance structural resilience. Rebalance toward resilience over efficiency to maintain operations in a more volatile environment.Reimagine talent for aging populations and AI. Build strategies for intergenerational work, more flexible roles, and talent mobility—and recruit more widely, especially from emerging labor markets.Build digital flexibility and trust. Take a modular approach to tech and data stacks that accounts for rapidly changing technologies.Sharpen sensing and influencing capabilities. Develop sensing capacities along dimensions like regulation, geopolitics, resources, and technology. Build the capability to act on them quickly.Embrace a broader societal role. Prepare to shoulder more responsibility for workers’ well-being, local resilience, crisis management, and community needs.

“No one can predict exactly what 2050 will look like, but the forces shaping it are already visible,” said Alan Iny, a partner and director at BCG, a BCG Henderson Institute Fellow, and a coauthor of the report. “Planning for a single future is a gamble. The advantage will go to leaders who prepare for multiple futures and act to shape them before the direction of the world is clear.”

Download the publication here: https://www.bcg.com/publications/2026/beyond-tomorrow-four-scenarios-for-the-world-of-2050

Media Contact:
Eric Gregoire
+1 617 850 3783
gregoire.eric@bcg.com

About the BCG Henderson Institute
The BCG Henderson Institute is Boston Consulting Group’s strategy think tank, dedicated to exploring and developing valuable new insights from business, technology, and science by embracing the powerful technology of ideas. The Institute engages leaders in provocative discussion and experimentation to expand the boundaries of business theory and practice and to translate innovative ideas from within and beyond business. For more ideas and inspiration from the Institute, please visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).

About Boston Consulting Group
Boston Consulting Group partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG was the pioneer in business strategy when it was founded in 1963. Today, we work closely with clients to embrace a transformational approach aimed at benefiting all stakeholders—empowering organizations to grow, build sustainable competitive advantage, and drive positive societal impact.

Our diverse, global teams bring deep industry and functional expertise and a range of perspectives that question the status quo and spark change. BCG delivers solutions through leading-edge management consulting, technology and design, and corporate and digital ventures. We work in a uniquely collaborative model across the firm and throughout all levels of the client organization, fueled by the goal of helping our clients thrive and enabling them to make the world a better place.

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Technology

DEKRA Korea to Acquire Global Product Service, Strengthening Consumer Electronics Testing and Certification Capabilities in Korea

Published

2 hours ago

April 20, 2026

GIMHAE-SI, South Korea, April 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — DEKRA, a leading global provider of testing, inspection, and certification services, today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Global Product Service Co., Ltd (GPS), a prominent South Korean company renowned for its expertise in consumer electronics product testing and certification.

This strategic acquisition will significantly enhance DEKRA Korea’s capabilities within the rapidly growing consumer electronics sector, bringing together DEKRA’s global network and comprehensive service portfolio with GPS’s deep-rooted local knowledge and decades of experience serving South Korea’s leading manufacturers.

GPS has established a strong reputation for its in-depth technical expertise and unwavering commitment to quality, particularly within the consumer electronics market. For many years, GPS has been a trusted partner to major South Korean electronics companies, providing testing and certification services that ensure product safety, performance, and compliance with international standards.

The successful acquisition is a result of the strong collaboration and commitment from both DEKRA and GPS. Key representatives who participated in the signing, embodying this collaboration, were Dr. Kilian Aviles, Executive Vice President of DEKRA Group and Head of Asia Pacific Region; Ming Sheng, Vice President of Automotive Testing, DEKRA China; Young Seok Lee, CEO of Global Product Service Co., Ltd; and Seong Su Kim, Director of Global Product Service Co., Ltd.

“We are thrilled to welcome Global Product Service Co., Ltd to the DEKRA family,” said Dr. Kilian Aviles, Executive Vice President of DEKRA Group and Head of Asia Pacific Region. “This acquisition represents a significant milestone in our growth strategy in South Korea. GPS’s deep understanding of the local market, combined with their specialized expertise in consumer electronics, perfectly complements DEKRA’s global strengths. Together, we will offer unparalleled testing and certification solutions to our clients, empowering them to bring innovative and reliable products to market with greater speed and confidence.”

The integration of GPS into DEKRA Korea will leverage synergies in technology, talent, and market reach. This will enable DEKRA to further support South Korean manufacturers as they navigate complex global regulatory landscapes and strive for excellence in product development and quality assurance. Clients can expect a seamless transition and continued access to the high-quality services they have come to rely on from both organizations.

Young Seok Lee, CEO of Global Product Service Co., Ltd commented, “Joining forces with DEKRA is an exciting opportunity for GPS. DEKRA’s global reach and extensive resources will allow us to expand our service offerings and better serve our existing and future clients. We are confident that this partnership will create significant value for the South Korean consumer electronics industry, providing enhanced support and innovation.”

About DEKRA

For more than 100 years, DEKRA has been a trusted name in safety. Founded in 1925 with the original goal of improving road safety through vehicle inspections, DEKRA has grown to become the world’s largest independent, non-listed expert organization in the field of testing, inspection, and certification. Today, as a global partner, the company supports its customers with comprehensive services and solutions to drive safety and sustainability forward—fully aligned with DEKRA’s anniversary motto, “Securing the Future.” In 2024, DEKRA generated revenue of 4.3 billion euros. Around 48,000 employees are providing qualified and independent expert services in approximately 60 countries across five continents. DEKRA holds a Platinum rating from EcoVadis, placing it among the top 1% of the world’s most sustainable companies.

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SOURCE DEKRA Asia Pacific