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☀️ Today's weather: Sunny, with a high of 95 and a low of 72.

🎂 Happy birthday to our member Wayne Bragg!

Today's newsletter is 947 words — a 3.5-minute read.

Raleigh's economy continues to show strength heading into the second half of 2026, even as hiring growth slows nationally, according to a new report by PNC Bank's regional researchers.

Why it matters: Hiring in the Raleigh-Cary metro area grew at the 6th-highest rate among all metro areas to start the year, according to PNC, despite it being the 50th-largest metro area in the country.

• Between the lines: Durham is not counted as part of the Raleigh metro area by the U.S. Census, a fact that has long frustrated local economic developers.

Driving the news: The remarkable aspect of the job growth in the greater Triangle, PNC researchers say, is that it is not reliant on one industry. A diverse set of industries are showing growth, including education and healthcare, professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality.

• That broad spectrum means that more workers will benefit from wage growth.

By the numbers: The Raleigh metro area's job growth for the six months through May 2026 was 2.3% on an annualized basis — a rate higher than 99% of metro areas.

What they're saying: "I don't want to call Raleigh a unicorn, but in current terms, a lot of local economies are specializing [in certain industries] and therefore becoming high-tech markets or financial centers," Kurt Rankin, a senior economist at PNC, told Axios.

• "To have a well-rounded local economy is a rarity these days, and to have one that's firing on all cylinders is rarer," he added.

Zoom in: Rankin called out Raleigh's job growth in leisure and hospitality as especially noteworthy. He noted that sector's growth in Raleigh was stronger than other prominent regional metro areas like Washington D.C., Atlanta, Nashville and Charlotte.

• "The fact that Raleigh boasts stronger growth than comparable economies implies that local households are comfortable spending back into the local economy, which creates a virtuous cycle of income growth and spending growth across all segments of the income spectrum," Rankin wrote in the report.

Go deeper

Over the past decade, Viceroy has become a downtown Durham staple for its elevated British-Indian fusion cuisine served in a stylish Main Street pub.

Why it matters: England's World Cup semifinal against Argentina makes today a fitting time to revisit one of the Triangle's best British-inspired restaurants.

Zoom in: Britain's colonial history helped popularize Indian cuisine in the U.K., where it evolved into a distinct culinary tradition.

• Historic photographs throughout the restaurant reference the era when British viceroys governed colonial India during the 19th and 20th centuries.
• Viceroy opened 10 years ago this fall, per Indy Week.

Best bites: Its curried sausage rolls ($10 for two) are flaky golden delights served with mustard aioli. Jeera wings ($21 for 10) come roasted with a bold cumin flavor.

• Curries dominate the menu. We chose the lamb korma ($25) because of its Anglo-Indian roots. It was well-flavored and tender.
• We ordered the korma spicy and the wings medium, then gladly added a side of raita ($5) — a cucumber yogurt sauce — to cool things down.

Fun fact: Last year, the Viceroy team began managing the kitchen across the street at Bull McCabe's, a favorite among Bull City soccer fans. (Fish and chips, anyone?)

What's next: England faces Argentina at 3pm in Atlanta. The winner advances to this weekend's World Cup final against Spain.

If you go: Viceroy is open for dinner every day but Tuesday.

• 335 W. Main St.

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🗳️ A new poll puts former Gov. Roy Cooper's lead over Michael Whatley in the U.S. Senate race at 4 percentage points. (WRAL)

💰 North Carolina's state budget commits $30 million toward the expansion of private jet company FlyExclusive's maintenance facility in Kinston. (Triangle Business Journal 🔒)

🏙️ Wake County plans to spend $22 million to relocate 400 residents of homeless encampments, providing them with a year of housing and other assistance. (Indy Week)

If you're looking to get outside and experience live music, there's something for everyone this summer across the Triangle.

Why it matters: From country music legends to throwback '90s shows, the Triangle's outdoor music venues all have big names braving the heat and humidity over the next few weeks.

Here are some of the summer's biggest concerts:

🎸 Friday: Jam band stalwarts Phish take over Coastal Credit Union Music Park in Raleigh.

🎹 July 22: Indie rock groups Death Cab for Cutie and Japanese Breakfast host a show at Coastal Credit Union Music Park.

🎙️ July 24: Burgeoning country music star Ella Langley plays Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary.

🥁 July 28: Songwriting legends Bob Dylan and Lucinda Williams take their summer tour to Raleigh's Red Hat Amphitheater.

🤠 Aug. 7: County music icon Tim McGraw headlines Coastal Credit Union Music Park.

🐐 Aug. 22: See hometown heroes The Mountain Goats play Durham Performing Arts Center.

🏄 Aug. 22: Slow it down with the laid-back tunes of Jack Johnson at Coastal Credit Union Music Park.

💿 Aug. 28: Relive the '90s as the bands Blues Traveler, Gin Blossoms and Spin Doctors come to Koka Booth Amphitheatre.

🎤 Aug. 29: Chance the Rapper returns to Red Hat Amphitheater for the 10th anniversary of his album "Coloring Book."

🪩 Aug 31: Pop star Kehlani makes a stop at Coastal Credit Union Music Park.

Send to your concert buddies

⚾️ Zachery is craving a hot dog from Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

🌭 Mary Helen is a Bright Leaf hot dog girlie.

Thanks to Mike Szvetitz for editing this newsletter.