If you blinked this week, you might’ve missed a few major moves.

Netflix decided it’s time for a stock split, Amazon trimmed thousands of jobs, and Walmart is already dropping “Black Friday” prices before the Halloween candy wrappers are even off. Meanwhile, housing trends, climate shocks, and AI budgets kept reshaping the conversation about what’s next for growth.

Here’s a look at what mattered most this week, and why these stories could shape the months ahead.

Mortgage-free America hits a new high

A record 40.3% of owner-occupied homes are owned free and clear, up from 39.8% last year. Aging baby boomers and longer lifespans concentrate equity among older owners, and 64% of homeowners 65 and up have no mortgage. Lower-priced markets and older populations skew higher on mortgage-free

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