A monthly measure of optimism among small business owners has rebounded on more upbeat expectations for improving sales and staffing. The National Federation of Independent Business reported its Small Business Optimism Index rose 4.5 points to 94.4 in May. The index dropped a total of 13.6 points in April and March in the aftermath of […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times The monthly unemployment rate has spiked to one its highest levels ever in Mesa County as the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and related restrictions play out in the labor market. The low number of positive coronavirus cases and efforts to reopen businesses in the county offer encouragement, though, the […]
A monthly index forecasting economic conditions in the United States continues to slide, suggesting the coronavirus pandemic and related restrictions have triggered a recession. The Conference Board reported its Leading Economic Index (LEI) fell 4.4 percent to 98.8 in April. That decline follows a 7.4 percent decrease in March, the largest monthly decline in the […]
A measure of consumer confidence continues to slide as concerns mount over the effects of the coronavirus on business and labor conditions. The Conference Board reported its Consumer Confidence Index retreated 31.9 points to 86.9 in April. The present situation component of the index fell 91.3 points, the biggest drop on record. Lynn Franco, senior […]
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 […]