Phil Castle, The Business Times The monthly unemployment rate held steady in Mesa County during February, but likely will increase in coming months as a result of the coronavirus outbreak and government restrictions. “The next four months are really going to be critical in telling us the outcome of the coronavirus outbreak for Mesa County,” […]
Tax collections continued to increase in the Grand Valley through the first two months of 2020, a measure of higher retail sales compared to the same span in 2019. Lodging tax collections in Grand Junction, an indicator of hotel and motel stays, also increased. Numbers aren’t yet available, though, to indicate to what extent the […]
A monthly measure of optimism among small business owners has edged up on more upbeat expectations for the economy and staffing. But the threat of the coronavirus outbreak could cause uncertainty. The National Federation of Independent Business reported its Small Business Optimism Index rose two-tenths of a point to 104.5 in February. That level ranks […]
A monthly index forecasting economic conditions has rebounded, signaling what likely will be continued growth through early 2020. The Conference Board reported its Leading Economic Indicator (LEI) rose eight-tenths of a percent to 112.1 in January. The gain is more than double a three-tenths of a percent loss in December . A measure of current […]
A monthly measure of consumer confidence has edged up on more optimistic expectations for business and labor conditions. “Consumers’ short-term expectations improved, and when coupled with solid employment growth, should be enough to continue to support spending and economic growth in the near term,” said Lynn Franco, senior director of economic indicators for the Conference […]
U.S. payrolls swelled in November and the unemployment rate edged down to its lowest level in 50 years. Nonfarm payrolls increased 266,000 and the jobless rate slipped a tenth of a point to 3.5 percent, according to the latest Labor Department estimates. The initial estimate for payroll gains in October was revised upward 28,000 to […]
A monthly measure of consumer confidence has declined for a fourth straight month on less upbeat assessments of business and labor conditions, but still offers encouragement in the midst of the holiday shopping season. “Overall, confidence levels are still high and should support solid spending during this holiday season,” said Lynn Franco, senior director of […]
Sales tax collections continue to rise in Mesa County, an indication of increased retail activity. Mesa County collected nearly $3 million in sales taxes in October. That’s an increase of $160,568 and 5.7 percent over the same month last year. The county also collected more than 287,000 in use taxes on automobiles purchased outside the […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times The monthly unemployment rate in Mesa County has crept up, but still remains near record-low levels. A year-over-year decrease in the jobless rate combined with an increase in the labor force bodes well, said Curtis Englehart, director of the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction. “2019 has been a […]
Payrolls continue to grow in the United States even as the unemployment rate remains near a 50-year-low. Nonfarm payrolls increased 128,000 and the jobless rate edged up a tenth of a point to 3.6 percent in October, according to the latest Labor Department estimates. Overall payrolls increased despite a drop in manufacturing employment because of […]