In yet another sign of improving underlying economic conditions, the birthrate has finally begun to climb again, in the first increase since 2007.  There were 62.9 births for every 1000 women of childbearing age last year, compared to 62.5 the year before.   (WSJ)

Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen said yesterday that policy makers are still waiting to see "decisive" evidence of the strength of the economic recovery before beginning interest rate increases.  The fed is treading a precarious line as it attempts to signal the first rate rise since 2006, while damping the risk of a market tantrum that could damage global growth. (FT)

The US Treasury announced yesterday that a woman will grace the cover of the new $10 bill, for the first time in more than a century.  The Treasury is looking to the public for input, and the social media hashtag #thenew10 is where YOU can help decide who should take the starring role.  

Airbnb, the popular home-rental site with its operational headquarters in Portland, is nearing completion of a VC funding round that will see its valuation reach $24bn.  Some might find that rich for a company generating current annual revenues of just $900m.  For comparison, hotel giant Marriot, with 4,000 hotels and $13.8bn in annual revenue, is valued at about $21bn.