Employment continued to trend upward in the United States in May, but the unemployment rate also edged up to its highest level in more than two years. Nonfarm payrolls increased 272,000 even as the jobless rate rose a tenth of a percent to 4 percent, according to the latest estimates from the U.S. Bureau of […]
A quarterly measure of confidence among business executives has advanced on more optimistic assessments for the United States economy. The Conference Board reported its Measure of CEO Confidence rose a point to 54 for the second quarter, remaining above 50 for a second consecutive quarter. A reading above 50 reflects more positive than negative responses […]
Sales tax collections, one measure of retail activity, continue to increase on a year-over-year basis in Mesa County. The county collected nearly $4.2 million in sales taxes in April, an increase of almost $85,000 and 2.1 percent over the same month a year ago. April collections reflect March sales. Mesa County collected more than $2.4 […]
A monthly index tracking the economy in rural areas of Colorado and nine other states remained in negative territory for a ninth straight month. The overall reading for the Rural Main Street Index fell 1.6 points in May. At 44.2, the latest reading remained below growth-neutral 50. The overall reading for Colorado dropped 12.7 points. […]
A monthly index forecasting economic conditions in the United States continues to decline, signaling slowing ahead. The Conference Board reported its Leading Economic Index (LEI) decreased six-tenths of a percent to 101.8 in April. Separate measures of current and past conditions both increased. “Another decline in the U.S. LEI confirms that softer economic conditions lay […]
A measure of optimism among small business owners has retreated to its lowest level in more than a decade as expectations for increased sales dropped. The National Federation of Independent Business reported its Small Business Optimism Index fell nine-tenths of a point to 88.5 in March. That’s the lowest level since 2012 and stretches to […]
Employment continued to increase in the United States in March even as the unemployment rate edged down. Nonfarm increased 303,000, and the jobless rate slipped a tenth of a point to 3.8 percent, according to the latest estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Initial estimates for payroll gains the previous two months were […]
A monthly index forecasting economic conditions in the United States increased for the first time in two years, but doesn’t yet signal growth ahead. The Conference Board reported its Leading Economic Index edged up a tenth of a point to 102.8 in February. Separate measures of current and past conditions also increased. Justyna Zabinska-La Monica, […]
A monthly index tracking the economy in rural areas of Colorado and nine other states has retreated to its lowest level in nearly four years. The overall reading for the Rural Mainstreet Index dropped 8.2 points to 38 in March. That’s below growth-neutral 50 and the lowest level since June 2020 and the midst of […]
A monthly measure of consumer confidence edged down as their assessments of current conditions improved, but their expectations worsened. “Over the last six months, confidence has been moving sideways with no real trend to the upside or downside either by income or age group,” said Dana Peterson, chief economist at the Conference Board. The New […]