U.S labor update: Payrolls, jobless rate both up

U.S. employers continue to hire, but the unemployment rate moved up as more people looked for jobs. Nonfarm payrolls increased 187,000 and the jobless rate increased three-tenths of a point to 3.8 percent in August, according to the latest estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The jobless rate climbed to its highest level […]

Survey results show consumers less confident

A measure of consumer confidence has retreated on less upbeat assessments of business and labor conditions. The Conference Board reported its Consumer Confidence Index dropped 7.9 points to 106.1 in August. Measures of current conditions and short-term expectations both fell. “August’s disappointing headline number reflected dips in both the current conditions and expectations indexes. Write-in […]

Colorado outlook updated to reflect mixed signals

The Colorado economy is sending mixed signals with continued growth in production and high levels of labor force participation, but flagging employment growth. “Businesses continue to indicate a desire and need to hire more workers. But the slow net migration to Colorado has contributed to the sustained worker shortage in the state in 2023,” said […]

Grand Junction tech company growing

A Grand Junction-based company offering technology to help manage streaming video on mobile devices continues to grow thanks in part to incentives, grants and private investments. “It is truly amazing to build a new tech venture in the state of Colorado and even more so to do it in Grand Junction. Once we moved Sky […]

Vintage effort: New director selected to oversee wine board

A man who’s worked 13 years as marketing coordinator of the Colorado Wine Industry Development Board has been appointed as executive director of the  organization. Kyle Schlachter succeeds Doug Caskey, who retired after serving 23 years as director. “Stepping into the leading role at the Colorado Wine Industry Development Board will allow me to continue […]

Colorado official joins in opposition to Kroger deal

The Colorado secretary of state has joined in an effort opposing a proposed acquisition that would further consolidate the retail food industry. Jena Griswold and six other secretaries of state submitted a letter to the chairwoman of the Federal Trade Commission opposing Kroger Co.’s  planned $24.8 billion acquisition of Albertsons Cos. Secretaries of state from […]

Colorado agency to join in small business cybersecurity effort

An economic development agency in Colorado is among six recipients of federal grants for a pilot program to assist small businesses with cybersecurity. The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade will receive $1 million in funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration for the program. “Cyber threats can be devastating to small businesses. […]

United Way plans community festival

An annual event planned for downtown Grand Junction will offer participants food, music and an opportunity to learn more about United Way of Mesa County and the nonprofit organizations United Way supports. The third annual Unity in Community Festival is set for 4 to 8 p.m. Aug. 31 at Seventh and Main streets. The event […]