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Good money news: Inflation and unemployment both down
There’s positive economic news for both Pennsylvania and the Philly area, though indicators still slightly lag the national average.
- Inflation dropped in the Greater Philadelphia region, which in October had the sixth lowest inflation rate among large U.S. metros, per the Economy League. Housing prices did continue to inch up, however.
And while slightly higher than the U.S. average of 3.7%, Pa.’s unemployment rate of 4% is the lowest it’s been since 1976, City & State reports.
Missing the Ginkgo stink? Why the drop was late this year
The pungent smell of a ginkgo tree is usually everywhere around Philadelphia this time of year, but residents have been noticing unusual behavior.
- The stinky fruits and fan-shaped leaves in several parts of the city didn’t drop until this week’s freeze. In some areas, the leaves never even turned signature gold before falling en masse.
Botanists say the noticeable shift is likely based on weather, Lizzy McLellan Ravitch reports.
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
- A recent Pa. Supreme Court ruling will allow judges to dismiss charges against defendants who aren’t considered competent to participate in their own trials. [Spotlight PA]
- Temple University is coordinating with the PPD after three armed robberies at off-campus student apartments in the past two weeks. No one was injured in any of the incidents. [Temple/TU Update]
- After AG Josh Shapiro invited Swifties to air out their bad blood with Ticketmaster, 1,200 complaints rolled in over 24 hours — a lot more than the usual 150 per day. [Billy Penn/Inquirer$]
- The Philly region has the highest rate of pet cat ownership in the U.S., per census data, with almost a quarter of households having at least one. The city also has a huge feral cat population, with 400k living in hundreds of colonies. [Axios/WHYY 2019]
- People are still buying Thanksgiving turkeys at the regular rate, Pa. farmers say, despite the industry-wide price increase due to avian flu and inflation. [WHYY]
- Kismet Bagels, which opened its first storefront in Fishtown in May, is expanding to Rittenhouse. The 17th and Sansom spot could launch in December. [Billy Penn/PhillyGrub]
The story you didn’t read
? Highlighting good BP articles few people clicked on ?
- From local nonprofits to thrift shops, and national charities to upcycling stores, where to send clothes and other items for a purposeful second life — now with an update of a few new spots.
MAYOR WATCH
No public events on the schedule for the city’s 99th mayor today.
ON THE CALENDAR
?? BP Quizzo is back! Join us at Padelphia on the Schuylkill River across from Manayunk. We’ll have three rounds of local trivia, drinks, snacks, prizes — and a chance to find out more about the apparently trendy racket sport called Padel. Free RSVP here. (7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15)
? If you’re not planning to Turkey trot on Thursday morning, the Trestle Inn hosts a Thanksgiving Eve dance party — with a holiday-ifed cocktail, the Turkeywide. (8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23)
? For that post-Thanksgiving turkey break, chef Emily Horner hosts a pop-up at the former Musi in Pennsport, offering square pizzas and frizwit cheesesteaks for pickup or delivery. (12 to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 26-27)
