Feldstein gauges the growing spread between the lowest median home price in the United States and San Jose's. The spread is bigger than it's ever been, he said, signaling that employers may start expanding or moving operations elsewhere. Signs of free-spending good times are everywhere at San Jose's shopping mecca, the Westfield Shoppingtown Valley Fair. A monument to Silicon Valley's rising fortunes, the mall recently built two new parking decks and is adding 100 new stores. The Ben Bridge Jewelers there reports particularly brisk sales of upscale items such as large diamonds and Omega and Tag Heuer watches.
Business is better than good.