Phil Castle, The Business Times Colorado has not only fully recovered from the recession, but is also among a small group of states expected to continue to outpace the more modest growth forecast for the national economy. Increasing energy production that’s positioned the United States to become self-reliant for natural gas and oil plays a major role […]
An index forecasting economic performance in the United States has increased for a third straight month, signaling faster growth in the months ahead. The Conference Board reported that its Leading Economic Index climbed eight-tenths of a percent to 100.9 in March. Over the past six months, the index has increased 2.7 percent. Separate measures of current and past economic […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times The monthly jobless rate in Mesa County continues to retreat as payrolls increase and the ranks of the unemployment shrink. While the trend is expected to continue, many employers remain hesitant to make significant staffing additions that would speed the pace. “They’re still a little bit reluctant,” said Jessica Marler, administrator […]
A measure of confidence among business executives in the United States continues to climb on more upbeat assessments of current economic conditions as well as more optimistic expectations for the near future. The Conference Board and PricewaterhouseCoopers reported that the Measure of CEO Confidence rose to 63 during the first quarter of 2014, up three points from the fourth […]
One month after taking a dip, a measure of local hotel and motel businesses has resumed an upward trend. According to a Grand Junction Visitor & Convention Bureau report for March, $62,400 in lodging taxes were collected. That’s 7.4 percent more than the $58,124 collected for the same month last year. Because lodging tax reports lag a month behind, […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times With an increase in March, sales tax collections in Grand Junction and Mesa County so far this year have kept pace with last year. The City of Grand Junction reported a 2 percent increase in sales and use tax collections for March over the same month last year. Mesa County reported a 3.1 percent […]
Colorado continues to rank among the top 10 most business-friendly states in an annual analysis of the cost of tax systems on starting and growing small businesses. Colorado slipped one spot, but ranks ninth in the 2014 Small Business Tax Index calculated by the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council. The small business advocacy and research group takes into […]
Colorado will receive nearly $27 million as its share of almost $1.1 billion in excise tax revenues distributed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to state and territorial fish and wildlife agencies. The revenue comes from taxes on the sale of archery equipment, firearms and ammunition, fishing equipment and tackle and electric outboard motors. […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Sue Hansen offers straightforward advice for improving professional lives: take control. “It’s 100 percent your responsibility,” said Hansen, a corporate trainer and motivational speaker who lives in Montrose, but works with clients across the country. Hansen will share her strategies for saving professional lives during an Administrative Professionals Day event in […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times Jon Labrum starts businesses almost as though he were following some sort of entrepreneurial shampoo instructions. Identify an opportunity. Launch a venture to serve the market. Repeat. Labrum first opened an information technology company, but then added two quick-service sandwich restaurants and a flight school. That’s not to mention a consulting […]