U.S. payrolls grew in April and estimated gains for the previous two months were revised sharply upward as the latest statistics reflect increased hiring. The Labor Department reported that nonfarm payrolls rose 165,000 in April with gains spread across several industry sectors. Moreover, initial estimates for payroll gains in March and February were revised upward […]
The pace of hiring in the United States slowed in March with the smallest gain in payrolls in nine months. The jobless rate edged down, but only because more people stopped looking for work and were no longer counted among the unemployed. According to the latest Department of Labor estimates, nonfarm payrolls grew just 88,000 […]
A monthly index tracking optimism among small business owners has retreated on less upbeat expectations for hiring and sales. The National Federation of Independent Business reported that its Index of Small Business Optimism fell 1.3 points to 89.5 in March. The decline ended a string of three straight months of gains. Over 44 months of […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times: Annette Miller likes what she sees in the real estate indicators she’s compiled for the first quarter in Mesa County. As sales increased, property foreclosure activity relented. “This is exactly what you like to see for a recovering market,” said Miller, senior vice president of Heritage Title Co. in Grand […]
A monthly measure of consumer confidence has rebounded sharply on more upbeat assessments of business and labor conditions. The Conference Board reported that its Consumer Confidence Index surged more than 11 points to 69.6 in February. The gain follows a more than eight-point drop the month before. At this time last year, the index stood […]
Consumers begin the new year less confident in business and labor conditions, according to the latest results of a monthly index tracking their outlook. The Conference Board reported that its Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) slumped more than eight points to fall to 58.6 in January. Declines in each of the last two months erased all […]
Housing prices have increased between 7 percent and nearly 10 percent in Grand Junction over the past year, according to the latest results of monthly analysis by a California-based firm. CoreLogic reported that home prices increased 7 percent between November 2012 and November 2011. Including such so-called distressed sales as foreclosure auctions and short sales […]
An annual presentation offering a forecast for the Colorado, U.S. and global economies will be broadcast online. Vectra Bank Colorado has scheduled its 20th annual economic forecast breakfast for 7:30 to 9 a.m. Jan. 30. The event will be broadcast live online at no charge, and participants will have an opportunity to pose questions through […]
Lodging tax collections have dipped on a year-over-year basis for the first time in 16 months, but continue to reflect increased business overall for hotels and motels in Grand Junction. According to the Grand Junction Visitor & Convention Bureau report for December, $64,431 in lodging taxes were collected, 6.7 percent less than the report for […]
A monthly measure of optimism among small business owners remains at one of its lowest levels in nearly two years as the outlook for labor and economic conditions worsens. The National Federation of Independent Business reported that its Small Business Optimism Index rose a half point in December. But at 88, the reading is still […]