Colorado business leaders are more upbeat heading into the new year, although they remain concerned about inflation, the COVID-19 pandemic and labor shortages. The Leeds Business Confidence Index climbed to 58 for the first quarter of 2022. That’s 1.9 points higher than the fourth quarter of 2021 and 10.1 points higher than the first quarter […]
A measure of optimism among small business owners continues to increase, but so do concerns about inflation and labor shortages. “Inflation is at the highest level since the 1980s and is having an overwhelming impact on owners’ ability to manage their businesses,” said Bill Dunkelberg, chief economist of the National Federation of Independent Business. The […]
Employment increased 199,000 in the United States in December, the smallest monthly gain in 2021, even as the unemployment rate decreased to 3.9 percent. The latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimate for nonfarm payrolls was less than half the average monthly gain of 537,000 in 2021. With a three-tenths of a percent decline between […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Tim Holt gets up in the morning and sometimes wonders if he’s still dreaming. Even months after completing the transaction, he says it’s difficult for him to realize he owns Jerry’s Outdoor Sports in Grand Junction. Call it an entrepreneurial dream come true. Holt does. Holt takes over from his […]
The Grand Valley is envisioned at once as a safe and forward-thinking community and outdoor recreation hub with varied and accessible public lands, according to the initial responses to a survey conducted to gauge what residents believe the area should become. The Grand Junction Economic Partnership conducted the survey as part of efforts by the […]
Tax revenues are expected to increase as the Colorado economy recovers, according to the latest government forecasts. “Today’s forecast shows that Colorado’s recovery is well under way and that many of our efforts to boost the economy have been successful,” said State Rep. Julie McCluskie, a Democrat from Dillon who serves as chairwoman of the […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times A record-breaking year for the Mesa County real estate market ended with a bang in a $22 million commercial transaction. While 2022 might not keep pace with 2021, the outlook remains encouraging at this point. “I don’t see much in the way of another good year,” said Robert Bray, chief […]
Members of a small business advocacy group in Colorado say they’re opposed to sales taxes on services, according to the latest results of an annual poll. Members also opposed additional compensation for employees whose work schedules are changed without notice, but favored limits on gubernatorial powers during emergencies. The National Federation of Independent Business sends […]
Colorado continues to rank among the top 10 destinations for do-it-yourself movers, according to the latest analysis of national migration trends based on U-Haul truck rentals. Colorado dropped one spot to seventh in the 2021 U-Haul Growth Index. Denver, Fort Collins and Colorado Springs ranked among the top cities in the state for growth. Other […]
Members of a Western Colorado credit union have approved a merger expected to increased their access to financial products and services. The Dec. 30 vote was the last step in the process to merge Western Rockies Federal Credit Union based in Grand Junction with Canvas Credit Union based in Englewood. The boards of the two […]