A "boom in supply" is giving Philadelphia renters some relief, but those looking to rent in other major cities in the region aren't so lucky, the author of Zumper's latest report says.

The big picture: Philadelphia welcomed a surge of new apartment units in 2024, with more than 13,000 units projected to be delivered last year, per a RealPage analysis.

• Last month, one-bedroom rental prices dropped slightly from the same time in 2023, the apartment rental site's report shows.
• Many Philly landlords are offering move-in specials, waiving application fees and reducing deposits to attract renters, Zumper's Crystal Chen tells Axios.

At the same time, rental prices are spiking in parts of nearby New Jersey and Delaware, and the lack of inventory is driving up competition.

By the numbers: Philly's median one-bedroom rental went for $1,520 in December, down 1.3% from the same period in December 2023, per Zumper data. Prices are up nearly 2% for two-bedroom apartments.

• That's above the statewide median price ($1,262 for a one-bed, as of last month).

Meanwhile, Allentown and Reading saw some of the largest year-over-year rental price growth in Pennsylvania.

• Allentown's median one-bed rental price ($1,360) was up more than 6%. but was among the region's cheapest rents. Reading one-bedrooms went for about $950 a month, up 5.6% from the previous year.

Zoom out: Prices for one-bedroom rentals in Trenton, New Jersey, where there's limited space for construction, were up nearly 27% in December from the same month in 2023.

• Wilmington, Delaware, saw a nearly 8% year-over-year rise for one-bedroom rentals, per the report.

What we're watching: Philadelphia's rental prices are expected to tick up in the spring and summer, Chen says.

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Take a glimpse at the "Gardens of Tomorrow," this year's theme for the upcoming Flower Show.

Why it matters: The fete to plants is a Philly rite of passage and signals the coming spring.

Zoom in: This year's show features several new exhibitors, including Japanese garden designer Kazuyuki Ishihara.

• It runs March 1-9 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Tickets: $20-$90.

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Author Jim Murphy became an overnight celebrity in Philadelphia after Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown created a stir reading his book on the sidelines last Sunday.

The big picture: The viral moment vaulted Murphy's book "Inner Excellence" to the top of Amazon's bestseller list. Murphy tells Axios he went from averaging five book sales a day to more than 10,000.

What they're saying: Murphy, a mental skills coach, tells Axios the gift came when he needed it most — as he'd been struggling to accept his 91-year-old mother entering hospice care.

• "I was just talking to God about that. What do you know a couple hours later? Everything changed," Murphy says.

The intrigue: The author, a devout Christian who has written another book about spirituality, says it felt like a divine nod he's experienced multiple times in his life.

Flashback: A few months after publishing "Inner Excellence," Murphy was on the verge of a breakdown. He was $90,000 in debt and had $100 left in his wallet.

• He called a friend for advice. Help someone in need, his friend said.

Murphy donated his remaining funds to someone on the street, who he later ran into at a Starbucks. They had used some of the money to buy Murphy a box of chocolates, a bracelet and a card.

• "Thank you so much for caring for me. Love, Zoe," the card read.
• That's when Murphy remembered a friend's story about zoe, a Greek word meaning "fullness of life" that appears throughout the Bible.

Soon after, people started discovering his book, and Murphy became an in-demand motivational coach for high-profile athletes and entrepreneurs, such as pro golfers Henrik Stenson and Hunter Mahan.

What's ahead: Since Sunday's viral moment, Murphy says, he has talked to Brown over the phone and plans to attend Sunday's Birds-Rams playoff game to support the star wideout.

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🌳 Calder Gardens along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway is slated to open in September.

• Trustees for the latest art institution along Museum Row also named Juana Berrío as senior director yesterday, per a news release.

👋 An Eagles fan captured in a viral video berating a Green Bay Packers supporter at last week's game was banned from the Linc, a source familiar with the matter told NBC.

• A New Jersey management consulting firm where the fan allegedly worked denounced the behavior and said it had parted with the employee.

🏥 Physicians in training at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital became the latest to unionize this week. (KYW)

The Philadelphia area is 111th among the country's best-performing big cities, per an annual report from the Milken Institute.

Why it matters: The ranking evaluates U.S. city metros on several economic factors, including job growth, affordable housing and economic equality.

Driving the news: Philly plummeted 59 spots from 2024, when the metro nabbed the top spot for the most-improved area among big cities.

See where other areas ranked

🎉 Check out special MLK programming all weekend at the African American Museum, including performances, discussions and family activities.

• Tickets are discounted Friday-Sunday, and free on Monday. Kids under 4 are free.

👸🏼 Sing and dance at this "Wicked" themed drag brunch at Dock Street Brewery in South Philly on Saturday, 11am-2:30pm. Tickets: $20

😌 Get into the spirit of Dry January at Dry Vibes Philly at Location 215. This wellness festival includes zero-proof speciality drinks, workshops, vendors and more. 11am-5pm

• Tickets: $33.33+

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