Mesa County continues to experience the highest property foreclosure rate among 12 metropolitan counties in Colorado. According to a report issued by the Colorado Division of Housing, both foreclosure filings and sales increased in May in Mesa County on a year-over-year basis. With one foreclosure sale for every 852 households, the foreclosure rate was higher […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times: The Mesa County unemployment rate has declined to its lowest level of the year, defying what’s usually a seasonal bump in the jobless rate attributed to students looking for summer jobs. Moreover, labor demand as tracked by another measure remains at its highest level in four years. Taken together, the […]
A monthly measure of optimism among small business owners remains stuck at an historically low level that reflects continued uncertainty over economic conditions. The National Federation of Independent Business reported that its Index of Small Business Optimism edged down a tenth of a point in May to 94.4. “In the last year, small business optimism […]
Powderhorn Mountain Resort atop the Grand Mesa skipped a downhill slide in reporting an increase in skiers and snowboarders last season even as other Colorado resorts experienced declines in the midst of an unusually dry and warm winter. “Much of the ski industry in the U.S. was confronted with weather challenges last year. But several […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times: The pace of real estate activity in Mesa County has picked up with year-over-year gains in sales and dollar volume of about 30 percent in May. What’s more, higher sales and lower inventories have combined to push up home prices. “It is picking up a smidge more momentum,” said Annette […]
A monthly index tracking business conditions in Colorado has slipped to its lowest level in seven months, but continues to forecast growth. The Business Conditions Index fell more than three points to 55.7 in May. With losses in each of the past two months, the index has dropped to its lowest level since it stood […]
Job growth continues to slow in the United States, according to government estimates that reflect shrinking monthly gains in payrolls. The Labor Department reported that nonfarm payrolls rose just 69,000 in May. Initial estimates for payroll gains in April and March were revised downward a total of 49,000. Meanwhile, the U.S. unemployment rate edged up […]
A monthly measure of consumer confidence has declined for a second straight month on less upbeat assessments for present and future business and labor conditions. The Confidence Board reported that its Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) fell nearly four points to 64.9 in May. The index slipped nearly a point in April. “Consumers were less positive […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times: Cindy Hoppe disputes the latest results of a quarterly survey that pegs the average apartment vacancy rate in Grand Junction at more than 10 percent. Hoppe, manager of Bray Property Management in Grand Junction, believes the apartment vacancy rate likely dropped below 7 percent during the first quarter of this […]
Sales tax collections in Mesa County continue to outpace last year, an encouraging measure of increasing retail activity. Tax collections for Mesa County and the City of Grand Junction reported in April exceed the same month last year. Collections reported through the first four months of 2012 also top the same span in 2011. The […]