Phil Castle, The Business Times: Three quarters of the way through the year, real estate activity in Mesa County remains on pace to exceed last year in both sales and dollar volume. Counting slight year-over-year increases reported in September, real estate transactions reported during the first three quarters of 2012 remain nearly 12 percent ahead […]
An index tracking business conditions in Colorado has slipped, but continues to forecast growth in coming months. The Business Conditions Index fell nearly six points in September, but at 53.3 remains above growth-neutral 50. So far this year, the index has ranged between a low of 49.6 in July and a high of 61.4 in […]
A measure of consumer confidence has rebounded to its highest level in seven months on more upbeat assessments of business and labor conditions. The Conference Board reported that its Consumer Confidence Index (CCI), jumped nine points in September to 70.3. That’s the highest reading since the CCI stood at 71.6 in February. “Consumers were more […]
A monthly index tracking optimism among small business owners has increased on a more upbeat outlook for the economy as well as plans to increase hiring and capital outlays. The National Federation of Independent Business reported that its Small Business Optimism Index jumped 1.7 points in August to 92.9. The index is based on the […]
Job growth continues in the United States, but at a slowing pace. According to the latest Labor Department estimates, nonfarm payrolls increased 96,000 in August, less than what many economists had expected. Moreover, initial estimates for payroll gains the previous two months were revised downward. The national unemployment rate slipped two-tenths of a point to […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times: Eye-popping gains in the number and dollar volume of real estate sales in Mesa County make Annette Miller increasingly upbeat about prospects for the market. “It’s pushing this year up,” said Miller, senior vice president of Heritage Title Co. in Grand Junction and a long-time observer of the local real […]
An index tracking business conditions in Colorado has seesawed back up in part on improved hiring in the construction sector, regaining ground lost the previous month. The Business Conditions Index jumped 9.4 points in August to 59, more than erasing a nine-point decline in July. The index remains below the 61.4 posted in March, however. Ernie […]
An index forecasting economic performance in the United States has rebounded, signaling continued, but slow, growth in the months ahead. The Conference Board reported that its Leading Economic Index (LEI) increased four-tenths of a percent to 95.8 in July, erasing a four-tenths of a percent decline in June. Separate measures of current and past economic […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times: Given increasing real estate activity in Mesa County, Annette Miller expects the market to hold steady in the midst of what’s typically an unsteady election year. If local economic conditions improve, so could the market. Still, foreclosure activity could affect prices, said Miller, senior vice president of Heritage Title Co. […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times: The monthly unemployment rate in Mesa County has decreased even as payrolls and labor demand continue to increase. Monthly jobless rates still could vary. But as long-term trends persist, the outlook for recovery improves, said Suzie Miller, business services manager at the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction. “It will […]