Just in time for the holiday shopping season, a monthly measure of consumer confidence reflects more cheer than fear. The Conference Board reported that its Consumer Confidence Index surged more than 15 points to 56 in November on more optimistic assessments of current and future business and labor conditions. “Consumers appear to be entering the […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times: The monthly unemployment rate in Mesa County remains at its lowest level in nearly two years, a sign the labor market could be stabilizing. “I do think it’s encouraging to see we’re remaining steady,” said Suzie Miller, an employment specialist with the Mesa County Workforce Center in Grand Junction. According […]
Apartment vacancy rates jumped to their highest level in a year in Grand Junction, but the average monthly rent also increased nearly $25. According to the latest results of a survey conducted for the Colorado Division of Housing, the average apartment vacancy rate in Grand Junction climbed to 7.7 percent during the third quarter. The […]
Sales and use tax collections, a key indicator of retail activity, continue to come in ahead of last year in Mesa County, the latest government reports confirm. The City of Grand Junction reported collecting a total of more than $4.3 million in sales and use taxes in October, an increase of more than 4.2 percent […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times: Annette Miller believes the Mesa County real estate market is still moving through a proverbial valley, and a wide one at that. But if recent trends continue, the market slowly will move out of that valley. Real estate sales remain on pace to top last year and reverse a four-year downward […]
Payrolls continue to grow, but not yet enough to substantially reduce unemployment in the United States. According to the latest Labor Department estimates, nonfarm payrolls rose 80,000 in October while the jobless rate dipped a tenth to an even 9 percent. The private sector added 104,000 jobs, while government employment continued to trend downward with […]
A monthly measure of consumer confidence has retreated to recession-level readings on growing concerns about current and future business and labor conditions. The Conference Board reported that its Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) fell nearly seven points to 39.8 for October. “Consumer confidence is now back to levels last seen during the 2008-2009 recession,” said Lynn […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times: The monthly unemployment rate in Mesa County has retreated to its lowest level in nearly two years even as labor demand continues to increase, particularly for energy and transportation jobs. “We definitely have seen more activity in the job market,” said Suzie Miller, an employment specialist with the Mesa County Workforce […]
Craig Hall, The Business Times: “We are really seeing a trend with younger students taking an interest in opening their own businesses,” says Dr. Morgan Bridge, Head, Department of Business at Colorado Mesa University,” And it is our goal to have a degree program that will give them the tools to be successful.” While the university […]
A monthly index forecasting economic performance in the United States continues to advance, but at a slowing pace that portends “sluggish” conditions. The Conference Board reported that its Leading Economic Index (LEI) rose two-tenths of a percent to 116.4 in September. While the LEI has gained 1.1 percent over the past three months, the pace of […]