WASHINGTON — CEO confidence has jumped to its highest level in three years, small business optimism remains strong, and manufacturing sentiment has rebounded into expansion territory, signaling renewed economic momentum under President Donald Trump’s administration.

Continue Reading

New Jersey Supreme Court to Rule on COVID Hazard Pay Dispute for School Workers

Trenton, NJ - The New Jersey Supreme Court is scheduled to issue a decision Wednesday in a closely…

Seaside Heights Once Touted as a Premier Destination for “Girl Watching”

If you've ever wondered what Seaside Heights looked like before Snooki, Karma nightclub, and the famous boardwalk brawls,…

Congress Demands New Jersey Surrender Documents in Non-Citizen Voting Scandal

Trenton, NJ - The Republican chairmen of two House committees have formally demanded records from the New Jersey…

The Conference Board’s Measure of CEO Confidence for Q1 2025 found that 44% of CEOs view economic conditions as better than six months ago, more than double the previous quarter’s figure. Additionally, 71% of CEOs plan to raise wages by 3% or more this year, up from 63% in Q4 2024.

Manufacturing activity, as measured by the ISM Purchasing Manager’s Index, returned to expansion in January for the first time in over two years. S&P Global’s manufacturing survey also surged in February, reaching its highest level since June 2022.

Since Trump’s election, nearly $3 trillion in private sector investments and trade commitments have been announced. These include a $500 billion AI infrastructure project with SoftBank, Oracle, and OpenAI; a $600 billion Saudi investment pledge; and Taiwan Semiconductor’s (TSMC) $100 billion expansion in the U.S. Other major commitments come from Apple, Honda, Eli Lilly, and Stellantis, among others.

Economic indicators and corporate investments suggest growing confidence in Trump’s pro-growth policies as businesses ramp up hiring and expansion.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.