A measure of optimism among small business owners has retreated on less upbeat expectations for economic conditions and persistent concerns about labor shortages and inflation. The National Federation of Independent Business reported its Small Business Optimism Index fell six-tenths of a point to 91.3 in August. The index has remained below its 48-year average of […]
U.S. employers continue to hire, but the unemployment rate moved up as more people looked for jobs. Nonfarm payrolls increased 187,000 and the jobless rate increased three-tenths of a point to 3.8 percent in August, according to the latest estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The jobless rate climbed to its highest level […]
A measure of consumer confidence has retreated on less upbeat assessments of business and labor conditions. The Conference Board reported its Consumer Confidence Index dropped 7.9 points to 106.1 in August. Measures of current conditions and short-term expectations both fell. “August’s disappointing headline number reflected dips in both the current conditions and expectations indexes. Write-in […]
Sales tax collections continue to trend upward in Mesa County, although not for all retail or industry categories. The county collected more than $4.4 million in sales tax in July, an increase of four-tenths of a percent over collections for the same month last year. July collections reflect June sales. The county collected more than […]
Phil Castle, The Business Times The unemployment rate continues to trend upward in Mesa County, although slow job growth also is expected in the months and years ahead. The seasonally unadjusted jobless rate edged up a tenth of a point to 3.8 percent between June and July, according to the latest estimates from the Colorado […]
A monthly index forecasting economic conditions in the United States continues to decline, signaling slowing and what could be a recession. The Conference Board reported its Leading Economic Index decreased four-tenths of a percent to 105.8 in July. A separate measure of current conditions increased. A measure of past conditions remained unchanged. The Leading Economic […]
Sales tax collections continue to trend upward in Mesa County, although not for all retail or industry categories. The county collected more than $4.4 million in sales tax in July, an increase of four-tenths of a percent over collections for the same month last year. July collections reflect June sales. The county collected more than […]
A quarterly measure of confidence among business executives in the United States has increased, reflecting a more upbeat, yet still cautious, outlook. The Conference Board reported its Measure of CEO Confidence rose six points to 48 for the third quarter. Still, a reading below 50 reflects more negative than positive responses from the 127 executives […]
A measure of optimism among small business owners has increased, but still reflects concerns over earnings and hiring. “With small business owners’ views about future sales growth and business conditions dismal, owners want to hire and make money now from solid consumer spending,” said Bill Dunkelberg, chief economist for the National Federation of Independent Business. […]
A measure of consumer confidence has rebounded to its highest level in two years on more upbeat assessments of business and labor conditions. “Headline confidence appears to have broken out of the sideways trend that prevailed for much of the last year,” said Dana Peterson, chief economist at the Conference Board. The New York-based think […]