Payrolls grew at their fastest pace in the United States in six months as the unemployment rate inched down, according to labor estimates for September. Nonfarm payrolls increased 254,000 and the jobless rate edged down a tenth of a point to 4.1 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Payroll estimates and the jobless […]
An index tracking the rural economy in Colorado and nine other states retreated to its lowest level in more than four years. The overall reading for the Rural Mainstreet Index fell 3.4 points between August and September to 37.5. That’s the lowest level since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States in […]
A monthly measure of consumer confidence dropped in September on less upbeat assessments of business and labor conditions. The Conference Board reported its Consumer Confidence Index fell 6.9 points to 98.7. The monthly decline was the largest since August 2021. Components of the index tracking current conditions and short-term expectations both decreased. “Consumers’ assessments of […]
A measure of consumer confidence increased as more upbeat assessments of business conditions outweighed concerns over the labor market. The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index advanced 1.4 points between July and August to 103.3. Components tracking current conditions as well as short-term expectations increased. The New York-based think tank bases the index on the results […]
A monthly measure of optimism among small business owners decreased even as uncertainty and concerns over inflation increased. The National Federation of Independent Business reported its Small Business Optimism Index fell 2.5 points between July and August to 91.2, more than erasing a 2.2-point gain the month before. The index has remained below its 50-year […]
An index tracking the rural economy in Colorado and nine other states retreated to its lowest level in nine months. The overall reading for the Rural Mainstreet Index fell four-tenths of a point between July and August to 40.9. That’s the lowest level since November. The index has stayed below growth-neutral 50 for a year. […]
A monthly measure of optimism among small business owners rose to its highest level in more than two years, but still reflects concerns. The National Federation of Independent Business reported its Small Business Optimism Index rose 2.2 points between June and July to 93.7. That’s the highest reading since February 2022. Still, the index remained […]
A measure of optimism among small business owners has climbed to its highest level of this year, but remains below its historical average. The National Federation of Independent Business reported its Small Business Optimism Index rose a point between May and June to 91.5. That’s the highest level since the index stood at 91.9 in […]
Employment continued to trend upward in the United States even as the unemployment rate inched up to its highest level in more than a year and a half. Nonfarm payrolls increased 206,000 in June and the jobless rate edged up a tenth of a point to 4.1 percent, according to the latest estimates from the […]
Sales tax collections, one measure of retail activity, continue to trend upward in Mesa County on a year-over-year basis. The county collected nearly $4.2 million in sales taxes in May, an increase of almost $160,000 and 4 percent over what was collected during the same month a year ago. May collections reflect April sales. Tax […]