Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute.

Home prices in Chicago rose in February at nearly double the national rate. The median home price in the City of Chicago was up 9.1% over last year at $360,000. This is the fourth month in a row that home prices rose by at least 9%, according to Crain’s. The nine-county metro area saw home prices jump 7.5% to $344,000. Nationally, the median home price was up 3.8% at $398,400. That metro area includes Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will counties.

Also, another Chicago law firm is in President Trump’s sights. Listen for more below:

Segment 1: Tom Gimbel, job expert and founder of LaSalle Network, joins John to talk about the best way to evaluate employees, the importance of honest communication with employees, and why companies should be embracing the NCAA Tournament.

Segment 2: Mike Frisch, general counsel and board member, Illinois Blockchain Association, joins John to talk about the new Strategic Bitcoin Reserve will mean for consumers in Illinois and around the world.

Segment 3: Chip Lupo, Writer and Analyst, WalletHub, joins John to breakdown the results of WalletHub’s 2025 Generational Finances Survey.  

Segment 1: Ilyce Glink, owner of Think Glink Media and Best Money Moves, joins Wendy Snyder to talk about cuts to the Social Security office and what that could mean for your benefits, and President Trump reportedly softening his tariff stance.

Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells Wendy about Chicago insurance tech startup Kin seeking opportunities in California as other insurers leave, Chicago startup Nerdio landing a big $500M funding round, and Chicago medical device startup Sibel raising $30M

Segment 3: Katie Hill, Founder and CEO, Unlisted, joins Wendy to talk about the software platform she created that is dedicated entirely to off-market properties, why she started this company, and how Unlisted works.

Segment 1:  Faron Daugs, CFP, Founder and CEO, Harrison Wallace Financial Group, joins John to talk about how the market has been performing this week, why he believes a market correction can be healthy, the latest on tariffs and the possible impact on the economy, Fed Chair Powell’s comments on interest rate cuts earlier this week, and when he expects the market to be back to where it was earlier this year.

Segment 2: Marilyn Russell, co-director of workplace strategies, Baker Barrios Architects, joins John to explain how office design has changed since the start of the COVID pandemic.

Segment 3: James Drury III, Founder & CEO at JamesDruryPartners, joins John to talk about the strength of America’s corporate boards.

Segment 1: Jason Turner, Chief Investment Strategist for Wintrust Wealth Management, joins John to talk about the markets looking for stabilization, Fed Chair Powell labeling the potential effect of tariffs on inflation as likely being transitory, why we need to keep an eye on employment, and his thoughts on the health of the economy overall.

Segment 2: Bree Fowler, Senior Writer, CNET, joins John Williams to talk about Google’s new Pixel phone, and Amazon suing the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission for finding Amazon legally responsible for the recalls of hundreds of thousands of products sold on its site.

Segment 3: Thom Dillion, Owner, JT Medicare Solutions, joins John Williams in-studio to talk about what people are most worried about right now, the cuts made to employees of Social Security, and what you should know about signing up for Medicare right now. For all those looking for Thom’s assistance – they can reach out to JT Medicare Solutions at 800-227-1012 or go to JTMEDICARESOLUTIONS DOT COM.

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute.

A new report says retails sales in the Chicago area rose nearly 5% in 2024 compared to the previous year. Crain’s reports local consumers spent nearly $178 billion in 2024. The numbers were compiled by a local consulting firm that analyzes sale tax data from the Illinois Department of Revenue. Consumers spent the most on clothes and online purchases but spending also went up for general merchandise, apparel and miscellaneous items like sporting goods, pet supplies, books and music. People spent less on buying cars and gasoline. High interest rates led to fewer car sales. 

Also, a Chicago medical device and technology startup has raised $30 million in a Series C round of fund raising. Listen for more below:

Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins John Williams to talk about what is driving up the price of gold, her thoughts on the the Social Security Administration requiring in-person identity checks, the fear over Social Security in general, and the Fed’s rate decision. Terry also answers all of your financial questions.

Segment 1: Tom Gimbel, job expert and founder of LaSalle Network, joins John to talk about why he doesn’t subscribe to the loss of productivity during the NCAA tournament. Tom also talks about treating employees with respect when they leave the company

Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, joins John to talk about the importance of job labeling and and making sure job titles align with actual responsibilities and pay scale.

Segment 3: Michael Miller, Economics Professor, Western Washington University and Professor Emeritus at DePaul University, chats with John about how just the announcement of a tariff impacts the market, the likelihood we see a recession in 2025, and what he expects the Fed to do with interest rates.

Segments 1 and 2: Ilyce Glink, owner of Think Glink Media and Best Money Moves, joins WGN’s John Williams to give updates on the markets along with the economic damage coming from shifts in US policy. Ilyce also warns listeners about identity theft scams and what to do if you encounter them.

Segment 3: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications at TechNexus Venture Collaborative, chats with John about Tempus AI and how it can assist in the individualized treatment of cancer patients.

Segment 4: Nicole DeJoris, President of Pinnacle Packaging, talks with John about the company’s delivery partnership with Amazon and how Pinnacle Packaging is expanding its business.

Steve Grzanich has the business news of the day with the Wintrust Business Minute.

Forever 21 has filed for bankruptcy and will wind down its U.S. operations. That means it will close stores across the country, including in the Chicago area. It currently operates stores in Chicago’s Water Tower Place, in Northbrook, Schaumburg, Chicago Ridge and Skokie among others. The company was founded in 1984 and is popular with young shoppers looking for stylish but affordable clothing. At its peak it employed more than 40,000 employees and 800 stores globally. When it filed for bankruptcy, Forever 21 had $1.8 billion in debt after losing more than $400 million over the last three years.

Also, there’s an expansion to report at Chicago’s Fulton Labs. Listen for more below: