The Dallas-Fort Worth economy is ending 2025 in a much different manner than it began.

In a year that started with all eyes on Washington, D.C. and an incoming (and repeat) Trump Administration, North Texas carved its own path, reshaping the business landscape for years to come. Here are a few of the biggest stories of 2025:

January’s Department store disruption

Once a bellwether of the retail world, Plano-based JCPenney in January said that it was merging with Sparc Group to form Catalyst Brands, bringing in names such as Aéropostale, Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, Lucky Brand and Nautica.

February and March bring downtown disruption

Longtime Dallas-based luxury department store chain Neiman Marcus, which was acquired in 2024 by Saks Global, announced and then unannounced that it would close its iconic downtown department store. The move was a blow to downtown leaders and city officials in an era when the central business district is being displaced as the region’s business and cultural epicenter.

Texas is data center central

Texas became the hotbed for the data center boom this year, with dozens of companies announcing plans for these energy-sucking, AI-enabling facilities. Gasoline was thrown on an already sizzling market when OpenAi announced its Stargate initiative in February. This adds to major North Texas data center projects from players such as Meta, Google and Nvidia partners Aligned and Wistron.

DFW (Airport) keeps growing

After more than six years of discussions — delayed by new economic realities after the COVID-19 pandemic — DFW International Airport and American Airlines finalized a deal for a super-sized $4 billion Terminal F, the first new terminal since 2005. The upsized plans will include 31 new gates, exclusively occupied by Fort Worth-based American. The first phase should open in 2027.

‘How’s that working for ya,’ Dr. Phil?

Celebrity TV problem solver Phil McGraw saw his North Texas-based startup Merit Street Media crumble in 2025 and file for bankruptcy, starting a contentious, fireworks-filled and often baffling court battle with partners such as Professional Bull Riders and Trinity Broadcasting Network. It was more entertaining than the famous Dr. Phil “Cash Me Outside” episode.

D-FW bank bought for $10.9B

Dallas-based banking giant Comerica was purchased by Ohio’s Fifth Third Bancorp in a $10.9 billion deal. Fifth Third was essentially buying its way into the Texas market, alongside branches in Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan and Texas.

Too many stories to count

These are just a few of the major storylines. There is also the drama about a Dallas ranch real estate agent killed by a buffalo during a hunt in South Africa, numerous real estate deals and residential expansions, arena searches by Dallas’ NBA and NHL teams that turned into a soap opera. A Muslim-centric development near Josephine gained national notoriety from politicians railing against the project.

National economic storylines such as international import tariffs and more aggressive national immigration enforcement efforts all reshaped the North Texas economy, too.

One thing was consistent. The Dallas-Fort Worth economy kept chugging along, adding some 42,600 jobs between the beginning of the year and the end of the third quarter. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Dallas-Fort Worth business datebook for the week of Dec. 28

Bowl games, economic reports and holiday closings.

Dallas-based Tricolor paid CEO $30 million in year before alleged fraud

The payments helped finance luxury homes in Dallas, Beverly Hills and Miami, the trustee said.

For millions of travelers, airport security can feel like the most stressful part of any trip — shoes off, laptops out, lines inching forward while flight boards flash warnings overhead. But new data obtained by CBS News suggests travelers flying through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport may be navigating that experience with less frustration than many expect.

According to a decade-long analysis of TSA complaint data, Hartsfield-Jackson recorded one of the lowest complaint rates among major U.S. airports, especially notable given that it is the busiest airport in the world. Between 2015 and 2024, the airport logged 4.53 TSA complaints per 100,000 passengers, placing it tied for seventh-lowest nationwide among the country’s largest airports.

Big crowds, fewer complaints

The study analyzed TSA complaints submitted to the agency’s Contact Center and compared them against total passenger enplanements at 63 of the busiest U.S. airports. The goal is to measure how often travelers felt compelled to formally report issues, such as customer service problems, screening delays, or mishandled property.

Over the 10-year period, Hartsfield-Jackson handled more than 461 million passengers — far more than most airports on the list — yet still maintained a relatively low complaint rate.

By comparison, some smaller airports recorded complaint rates more than double Atlanta’s, suggesting that airport size alone doesn’t determine passenger frustration.

Why it matters during holiday travel

As Christmas and New Year’s travel ramps up, the findings offer some reassurance for families heading out of Atlanta. 

TSA lines remain long during peak hours, but the data suggests that most travelers are getting through security without issues serious enough to file formal complaints.

Travel expert Shayne Fitz-Coy, CEO of Rustic Pathways, says the airport experience often shapes how people remember their trip.

“Airports are often the first and last part of any journey,” Fitz-Coy said. “A smooth security process can make a real difference in how travelers feel about their entire experience,” according to the study’s findings  .

Setting expectations, not guarantees

Airport officials caution that no system is perfect, especially during holiday surges. Weather delays, staffing shortages, and passenger volume can still create bottlenecks. But the data suggests Atlanta’s TSA operations have remained relatively consistent over time, even under extraordinary demand.

As holiday crowds continue to swell, the numbers point to a rare travel bright spot: at the world’s busiest airport, frustration doesn’t always come standard.