A monthly measure of hotel and motel stays in Grand Junction continues to reflect increased business for the hospitality sector compared to last year. Several other indicators of tourism activity also have increased on a year-over-year basis. According to the Grand Junction Visitor & Convention Bureau report for March, lodging tax revenues totalled $65,883, a [...]
A monthly index tracking conditions for small businesses in Colorado has edged up on stronger job gains as well as the prospect interest rates will remain at record-low levels. “Of all the issues that Colorado small businesses can worry about, extremely low interest rates aren’t one of them,” said Jeff Thredgold, a corporate economist who [...]
Sales tax collections in Mesa County continue to outpace last year, resulting in a double-digit increase in year-over-year comparisons for the first quarter. The trend bodes well not only for county coffers, but also the local economy. Sales tax collections offer a direct indicator of retail sales activity. The county collected a total of more [...]
After six straight months of gains, a measure of optimism among small business owners has declined on less upbeat expectations for hiring and sales. The National Federation of Independent Business reported that its Small Business Optimism Index retreated nearly two points to 92.5 in March. With gains in each of the previous six months, the [...]
Phil Castle, The Business Times: The monthly unemployment rate in Mesa County has declined even as labor demand has increased to its highest level in four years. After spiking at 9.6 percent in January, the seasonally unadjusted jobless rate retreated to 9.3 percent in February, according to the latest estimates from the Colorado Department of [...]
Phil Castle, The Business Times: Monthly sales tax collections in Mesa County have jumped more than 15 percent — a double-digit increase over last year that bodes well not only for government coffers, but also the local economy. “I’m very happy about that,” said Marcia Arnhold, finance director for Mesa County. Arnhold said the gain [...]
Mesa County experiences the highest property foreclosure rate among 12 metropolitan counties in Colorado, according to the latest results of a monthly report. According to statistics compiled by the Colorado Division of Housing, foreclosure filings and sales increased in February on a year-over-year basis in Mesa County. With one foreclosure sale for every 706 households, [...]
A monthly index tracking conditions for small businesses in Colorado continues to rise, forecasting accelerating economic growth. “Don’t look now, but the Colorado economy is likely to pick up speed over the balance of the year,” said Jeff Thredgold, a corporate economist who calculates the Vectra Bank Colorado Small Business Index (SBI). The SBI climbed [...]
A monthly measure of optimism among small business owners has increased for a sixth consecutive month despite mixed outlooks for economic conditions, staffing, sales and earnings. The National Federation of Independent Business Reported that its Small Business Optimism Index advanced four-tenths of a point to 94.3 in February. With gains in each of the last [...]
Higher sales and dollar volume through the first two months of the year constitute a promising start to what Annette Miller expects will be increased real estate activity in Mesa County in 2012. Property foreclosures remain a concern, though, especially if foreclosure filings don’t trend downward, said Miller, senior vice president of Heritage Title Co. [...]
